Date 2013-11-26
Category Gist & Gossip
The Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), has urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. M. D. Abubakar to release the report of the investigation demanded on August 27 by human rights lawyer ‘Femi Falana (SAN) concerning the letter purportedly transmitted to the Taraba State House of Assembly by ailing Governor Suntai Danbaba.
Mr. Suntai, who was suffered brain injuries when a plane he was piloting crashed in October 2012, returned to Nigeria and to Taraba State from the United States on August 25 after 10 months of receiving treatment and rehabilitation.
“Barely one day after his return, a letter was delivered to the House declaring the governor’s fitness and readiness for work without affording the public a copy of his medical report of mental and physical fitness,” Mr. Falana had noted in his letter.
“That letter generated heated debate between supporters of the Acting Governor and Governor Suntai,” CSNAC said. “The veracity of the letter also divided the Taraba House of Assembly along lines of allegiance to either the Acting Governor or the returnee ailing Governor. The supporters of Acting Governor Umar, who are in the majority, succeeded in exposing the chicanery of those behind the generation and transmission of the letter with a demand to have a chat with Governor Suntai, who had not seen or spoken with any of them before then.”
Reflecting on developments since then, CSNAC noted the attempt on the life of the late Speaker and his eventual death two weeks ago, and the Deputy Speaker who escaped death by the whiskers last week.
It recalled that Mr. Falana had predicted the grave danger inherent in any failure to investigate the letter to confirm its authenticity, as there were several allegations within and outside Taraba State that it may have been forged by the governor’s handlers.
“In view of the above stated demands and unfavourable political developments currently playing out in that State, it is our expectation that your office must have concluded investigation into the matter, 3 months after, in view of its potential threat to the peace and development of not only Taraba but Nigeria as a whole. We are therefore, by this letter, demanding a copy of the outcome of that investigation.”
CSNAC is a coalition of over 150 anti-corruption organizations “whose primary aim is to constructively combat corruption vigorously and to ensure the effective monitoring of the various Anti-graft agencies in its activities in the fight against corruption and to enthrone transparency, accountability, probity, and total commitment in the fight to eradicate corruption in Nigeria.”