The Bola Ige Centre for Justice (BICJ) has advised the Federal Government to honour the memory of the late Minister of Power and Steel, Bola Ige, by releasing former Minister of Power and Steel development, Dr Olu Agunloye to Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka. The centre also wants the trial to be made public.
De. Agunboye was arraigned on seven count charges bordering on fraudulent award of contract and official corruption in the construction of 3,960mw Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis. He was remanded in Kuje Prison custody by Justice Donatus Okorowo of Federal High Court in Abuja but was later granted a N50m bail.
Reacting to the development, the Bola Ige Centre for Justice argues that since Dr Agunloye was always making himself available on request of the court, there was no need to treat him like a hardened criminal.
Executive President of the BICJ, Comrade Awa Bamiji in a statement sent to TheWest Newspaper on Friday, said the ‘imprisonment’ was uncalled for.
“Dr Agunloye doesn’t deserve this kind of treatment at all because he has always been making himself available for hearing on the ongoing investigation of the charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), even before it got to the Federal Court, Abuja.
“Our man in question is a Law abiding Citizen and the star witness in the unresolved murder case of his Boss, late Minister of Justice and Attorney – General of Federation, Chief Bola Ige, and we are therefore surprised at this latest twist of event, after being declared wanted and subsequently detained by the EFCC, that could be best described as “dancing on Bola Ige grave and a clear attempt to frustrate a Law abiding Citizen at hearing of this popular case”. He said.
Comrade Bamiji demanded that the trial be made public for transparency. “We therefore urge that the ongoing hearing of misappropriation of N6 Billion meant for the execution of 16 year old MAMBILLA Power Project by Dr Olu Agunloye led Ministry of Power and Steel development during the Administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo must be made public to avoid casting of doubts on the judgement by the general public.
“We equally advise the Judge to release him, without further delay, to late Chief Bola Ige’s Soulmate, Prof Wole Soyinka, as our most outstanding Leader in the International Community of Civil Societies as soon as possible.”
He however added that, anything short of the centre’s demands may trigger mass actions across the nation.
Comrade Bamiji said: “Failure to do this could lead to a mass protest in few days to come in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, as serious discussion is ongoing on this plan because we are troubled in our mind and displeased by this action aimed at derobbing a former Personal Assistant to late Chief Bola Ige, SAN, 22 years after his Boss, the No 1 Law Officer in Nigeria was gruesomely murdered, and former Governor Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja later entered “no case submission” in Court to close the hearing after taking over from his Predecessor, former Governor Lam Adeshina, in May 29, 2003.”