Blood money: Why Goodluck Jonathan should face trial – Senate leader
– Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume said that former president Goodluck Jonathan should face trial if he is involved in the arms deal scandal
– Ndume lamented that over 10,000 innocent people were slaughtered like chickens because the Nigerian army was not equipped
– The senator wondered why the trial of Bukola Saraki is being given so much attention
“Anybody that is involved in that blood money should be held responsible.”
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, the Senate Majority Leader, stated that former president Goodluck Jonathan should face trial if he instigated the sharing of $2.1billion given to Sambo Dasuki, the former national security adviser, for procurement of arms.
The Nation reports that Ndume expressed his opinion while speaking with journalists on Thursday, March 10, in Abuja.
The senator stressed that anybody who is involved in that blood money should be held responsible for the crime.
Ndume lamented that over 10,000 innocent people were slaughtered like chickens because the Nigerian army was not equipped and not well kitted.
“I am not defending President Jonathan but he approved that this money be used for procurement of arms. So if the law says he should be part of those that should be part of the accountability or those that should face justice, I think nobody should be spared.
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“I really don’t want to make comment on that but anybody that is involved in that blood money should be held responsible.
“If the president approved that money in the name of buying arms while giving a directive that it should be shared among his cronies, then he should face the law.
“If anybody is supposed to buy arms and you gave them money to buy arms, as the president, after some time you should ask `where are the arms anyway.”
“Let me add and clearly that is my position, if because of this or any other criminality Jonathan should face the law, he should, I did, I am facing the law.
“Nobody is supposed to be above the law, if Jonathan is a culprit he should face the law: if there is evidence that the former president should face the law then he should. After all, he is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” he said.
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Commenting on the trial of Bukola Saraki, the Senate president, by Code of Conduct Tribunal, Ndume noted that the issue is being dramatized.
The senator noted that he was still in court on a more serious issue; however, his trial is surprisingly not getting so much attention.
“The president of the Senate is in court for assets declaration but I am in court for a more serious issue that I am alleged to be a sponsor of Boko Haram. I have been in court for four years so why is it not an issue.
“I have not complained, it is not a big deal. I am still the Leader of the Senate and my role is as important as that of the president of the Senate but it is not a big deal.
“Why are you making his own case a big deal? I think the Nigerian press trivializes things, dramatises issues, and concentrates on events and personalities instead of ideas: does that help us?” he wondered.
Meanwhile, a Lagos-based lawyer Festus Keyamo has recently stated that there is no law that forbids the prosecution of any former leader. He noted that Goodluck Jonathan can be prosecuted, only if there is overwhelming evidence against him.
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