You’re a liar, Obasanjo tells Bamaiyi
.Denies ever plotting to kill former COAS
Says, ‘My govt only allowed law enforcement agencies to probe murder allegations against Bamaiyi’
‘Who the hell is he that I would want to kill him? Kill him for what?’
.Counsels EFCC, ICPC on anti-corruption fight
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday came hard on the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (rtd), describing him as a liar.
Obasanjo, who spoke at his hilltop mansion in Abeokuta during a luncheon to appreciate journalists who reported his 80th birthday programmes, said contrary to the claim of Bamaiyi, what his government did was only to allow law enforcement agencies to investigate series of murder allegations levelled against Bamaiyi.
It would be recalled that the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (rtd), has in his book titled, “Vindication of A General,” accused Obasanjo of plotting to kill him for opposing Obasanjo as successor to former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Bamaiyi also said Obasanjo kept him away for fear he would overthrow his government.
Responding to the allegations, Obasanjo said: “That I wanted to kill him? What of the people he killed? My government did not plot to kill him”.
“My government asked him to answer to those that were alleged to have been killed by him and that is legitimate”.
“If there is an allegation that you have done something, that you have committed a crime, then you are arrested, you should answer”.
“And that’s all. Pure and simple. Who the hell is he that I would want to kill him? Kill him for what? To achieve what? No, there were allegations, the police and the law enforcement agencies decided to look into the allegations. They invited him and they asked him to answer as a result of what was found, so they charged him to court. So, it’s now up to him, the investigators as I said, the prosecutors and the judiciary. That’s all”.
Speaking on the ongoing corruption war, the former President advised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) to do proper investigation before dragging any suspect to law court.
“There must be at least three steps to be taken before the EFCC or ICPC could be successful in the war against corruption and these are adequate investigation, engaging more of internal lawyers than private ones and the use of the Judges that are committed to the course of fighting corruption”.
