Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s Executive Order 6 banning him, Atiku Abubakar’s campaign Director General, a dead Chief Judge, and 48 others from travelling out of the country.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Buhari signed Executive Order 6 banning Fani-Kayode; Atiku’s campaign DG, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; late Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Professor I.A Umezulike, and a host of others from travelling abroad for alleged corrupt practices.
The list was generated from cases and proceedings filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Nigeria Police, and 17 other agencies. The watch-list and restriction were put in place pending the conclusion of the cases against those affected.
“I could not give a damn that my name is on the list of 50 members of the opposition and prominent Nigerians that have been placed on a travel ban because nothing that Buhari does surprises me.
“I have not left Nigeria since 2008 because my passport has been with the EFCC and the courts for the last 10 years and they have refused to give it to me and let me to travel. Those on the travel-ban list that need to travel abroad for medical reasons or to see their loved ones are the ones I feel sorry for.
“For me, travel ban or no travel ban, I have no intention of leaving Nigeria anytime soon because I am one of those that will be on the forefront in the struggle to liberate our country and ensure that we get Buhari out of power over the next few months,” Fani-Kayode stated on Sunday.
Explaining the government’s action in a statement on Saturday, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu said, “Following the instant judicial affirmation of the constitutionality and legality of the Executive Order 6 (EO6), President Muhammadu Buhari has mandated the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice to implement the Order in full force.
“To this end, a number of enforcement procedures are currently in place by which the Nigeria Immigration Service and other security agencies have placed no fewer than 50 high profile persons directly affected by EO6 on watch-list and restricted them from leaving the country pending the determination of their cases.”
A top government official, who reportedly spoke to The Nation newspaper in confidence, said there is no cause for alarm on E06.
The source said: “The ban is not different from the conditions given by the court in granting these accused persons bail. The E06 is like a codification of steps to prevent those on trial for alleged corrupt practices from tampering with assets.
“Some of these accused persons used to go to court for permission before they can travel out of the country. The E06 is not a new thing but instead of all agencies working at cross-purposes, a list was generated and backed with the Executive Order.
“Some of those on trial, especially the Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) had been selling their assets. What will they return after being convicted?”
Tag: Executive Order 6
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Travel ban: Fani-Kayode reacts, reveals why he can’t travel out of Nigeria
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Lawyers sue Buhari, AGF over Presidential Executive Order 6
Two lawyers, Mr. Ikenga Ugochinyere and Mr. Kenneth Udeze, have filled a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja praying for an order nullifying the Executive Order 6 of 2018 which provides for the seizure of assets linked to ongoing criminal trials and investigations.
They also urged the court to restrain both President Muhammadu Buhari who issued the Executive Order 6 and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), designated as the coordinator of its implementation, from enforcing it.
The President on July 5, 2018, issued the Executive Order, which is titled in full as ‘Presidential Executive Order No. 6 of 2018 on the Preservation of Assets Connected with Corruption and Other Related Offences’.
But the plaintiffs in their suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/740/2018 and filed on their behalf by their lawyer, Mr. Obed Agu, on July 13, argued that the PEO contravened constitutional provisions.
They argued that by virtue of the combined effect of sections 5, 36 and 43 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the President lacked the power to issue the PEO.
They maintained that the President’s act or conduct in issuing the PEO interfered with or encroached into the ownership of assets or properties of any person without such person being found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
They maintained that by virtue of the constitutional provisions, the President lacked the power to issue such an order “on matters not connected with the ‘execution and maintenance of the Constitution, all laws made by the National Assembly and to all matters with respect to which the National Assembly has, for the time, being power to make laws”.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu on Wednesday fixed August 8 for the hearing of the suit in which Buhari and the AGF are the defendants.
The plaintiffs were represented by their lawyer, Mr. Obed Agu, and the defendants by Mr. Bashir Mohammed.
Before the judge adjourned the case on Wednesday, Mohammed informed her during the proceedings that he had filed on behalf of his clients a memorandum of conditional appearance which is an indication of their interest to file a preliminary objection to challenge the competence of the suit.
The PEO which designates the AGF as the coordinating authority directs him to “at all times in this connection, employ all available lawful means, including seeking appropriate order(s) of court where necessary, and ensure that assets shall not be transferred, withdrawn, or dealt with in any way until the final determination by a court of competent jurisdiction of any corruption related matter against such person.”
It also, among others, directs the 19 specifically mentioned Federal Government agencies and authorities “to ensure the preservation of suspicious assets and prevent their dissipation or removal from the jurisdiction of Nigerian courts, in order to facilitate, support and enable the expeditious and accelerated prosecution of the alleged corrupt practices, serious or complex corruption, and other relevant offences”.