N13bn cash: APC chieftain seeks release of report, prosecution of indicted persons

.Cautions Ganduje, Kano lawmakers over probe of Emir

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank, has said that the fight against corruption by the present administration may be in jeopardy if the findings of the Presidential committee investigating the controversial $43 million found in an apartment in Osborne Towers Ikoyi Lagos is not released to Nigerians on time.

The committee headed by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, is tasked to investigate ownership of the controversial amount as well as allegations of corruption against the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Engr. Babachir David Lawal, which Comrade Timi Frank believes ought to have been released to show transparency in the war against corruption.

Recall that the presidency had promised to release the reports over a week ago but Nigerians are still waiting.

The APC deputy publicity secretary said on Sunday that the continued delay in making public the report of Yemi Osinbajo’s three man committee might begin to give room to rumours and speculations which Nigerians are not known with the Acting President.

Frank declared that he had to speak out because when the committee was set up by the President he also commended the move.

He cautioned that not only Nigerians are expecting the outcome of Professor Osinbajo’s committee but “the international community are also waiting to see how Nigeria will handle the matter as this singular act could make or mar the war against corruption in Nigeria.

“It is high time this report is made public to proof to the world that our party means it when it says we are fighting corruption because do as said is the hallmark of integrity in governance.

“The reports of discovery of large amount of money as $43m without true identity of the owner in a country where government cannot pay salaries or increase the meager being paid the hard working Civil Servants, where poverty, hunger and massive unemployment are order of the day should not be delayed or swept under the carpet,” Frank said.

He said Nigerians actually believe in the integrity of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo the same way they trust President Muhammadu Buhari, saying, “this is the time to proof integrity because Nigerian masses are suffering for the sins they never committed”.

Making reference to how the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, gave himself to corruption allegations by this same government, he said: “Nobody found guilty should be protected. The NIA and SGF’s reports should no longer be kept away from Nigerians. These reports should be released within the shortest possible time to allay the fears among a section of Nigerians”.

In another development, the APC deputy publicity secretary has appealed to Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, to handle with care, allegations leveled against the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II.

In a statement on Friday in Abuja, Frank also called on the State House of Assembly to scrutinise the allegations properly before taking any action.

Recall that the Kano State House of Assembly last week announced that it had set up an eight-man committee to investigate the Emir.

The first class traditional ruler is being investigated on allegations bordering over alleged misconduct and misappropriation of funds belonging to the Kano Emirate Council.

Reacting to the development, Frank urged the governor to overlook some of the alleged excesses of Sanusi whom he described as “a new generation Emir’’.

He also appealed to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, traditional leaders in the country, Northern Governors Forum and elders in the region to intervene and settle the matter amicably.

“I call on our traditional fathers to quickly intervene now before this controversy between the state government and the Kano Emirate degenerates.

“I appeal to our dear Gov. Ganduje and the state lawmakers not to exercise their full strength against the Malam Sanusi-led Emirate in Kano following perceived wrong doings.

“I believe, like other opinion leaders have said, there should be a way to amicably settle the differences,’’ Frank said.

He reminded the lawmakers and the governor not to forget how Sanusi spoke out the truth during the PDP-led administration which resulted to the enthronement of an APC-led government in the country.

The APC stalwart also called on the Federal Government not to keep mute on the matter, but to intervene to ensure peace and tranquility reign between the Kano State Government and the Emir.

He specifically begged the governor and other top state government functionaries not to promote moves that would lead to the dethronement of the Emir.

According to Frank, such action can become a bad precedence against traditional institutions in the state and the country at large.