POLITICS: Buhari, APC Keep Mum As Gbajabiamila Is Enmeshed In US Fraud Scam

 As Femi Gbajabiamila continues to sink to deeper in the scandal of the fraud
case that occurred in the United States of America more than a decade ago,
for which he was found guilty by the Supreme Court of Georgia, US, his
biggest ally, President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the All
Progressives Congress (APC) have kept mute.
It is not clear whether Buhari will call for a probe into the dinghy past of the
lawmaker, whom the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, publicly claimed
is Buhari's anointed candidate for the House of Representatives'
speakership.
However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it does
not have the constitutional power to investigate the allegations of fraud and
conviction against Femi Gbajabiamila by a US court.
The National Commissioner and Chairman, Voter Education and Information,
Festus Okoye disclosed this when SaharaReporters inquired if the
commission will withdraw the certificate of return of the lawmaker and
prosecute him for lying on oath.
Okoye said that the commission did not have power to arrest or investigate
the allegations levelled against the lawmaker.
Though he admitted that the commission is empowered to prosecute any
electoral offenders if the commission receive a report to that effect from the
appropriate authority.
He noted that it is a pre-election matter, adding that anybody or group who
is aggrieved should make a formal complaint to the appropriate authority
charged with the responsibility to make arrest and investigate.
Okoye stated that INEC has not received any formal report from any authority
regarding the matter.
He pointed out that the commission had conducted elections and published
the names of the winners and if there is an evidence that somebody is not
qualified then the person should channel his complaint to the authority that
is charged with that responsibility.
He stressed that the issue now is for the appropriate agencies to investigate
the allegation before the commission can prosecute.
A public affairs analyst, Mr. Jide Ojo, stated that the issue of US conviction
has become a recurring decimal, adding that it is not an issue that concerns
INEC. He explained that it is only the court of competent jurisdiction that can
make a consequential order on the matter.
Ojo noted that the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) should allow
the court to decide the case on its merit. He maintained that it is only the
court that can order the withdrawal of Gbajabiamila's certificate of return.
He argued that the electoral umpire cannot institute any investigation on the
matter stressing that the Electoral Act only give the prosecutorial power to
the electoral body.
The analyst wondered how the court can decide the case ahead of the
inauguration of the ninth national assembly which has been slated for June
11, 2019.
Efforts to get the reaction of Mr. Smart Olanrewaju, Media Assistant to the
Femi Gbajabiamila was unsuccessful as his mobile phone was switched off.
President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC )
have not made any official comment or statement regarding the matter.
Earlier on Wednesday the Femi/Wase Campaign Group at a press conference
denied the allegations of Gbajabiamila's conviction and threatened to take a
legal action against CUPP.

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