Presidency probes allegation of graft against AGF

THE Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Abubakar yesterday invited the former member of House of Representatives, Hon. Dino Melaye for questioning over allegations of corruption and abuse of office against the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, indicating that the presidency may have ordered investigations into the allegations of corruption against Adoke by Melaye, the executive director,  Anti-Corruption Network.

Although details of the invitation were sketchy as at press time, but it was gathered that Melaye had petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan on April 11, 2013, accusing Adoke of graft and “outrageous use of powers against public  interest.”

Dino Melaye

However, clues  that investigation into the matter had started emerged from a letter signed on behalf of the IGP by the Commissiner of Police in charge of X-Squad, Ali Amodu to the petitioner, Mr Melaye.

The letter read in part,  “This office is investigating a case of alleged corruption, abuse of office and incompetence levelled against the current Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (Mohammed Bello Adoke) by your

organization.”

”In view of this, the Inspector-General of Police, has directed that a full scale investigation be conducted into the allegations by this office.

”Consequently, you are invited to meet the undersigned on Friday (yesterday) May 10, 2013 by 10 am prompt in Room 1C – 053 First Floor, Police Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Central Area, Abuja.”

The letter specifically invited Melaye to the Police Force Headquarters in connection with the investigations.

When contacted for his comments on the matter, the Chief Press Secretary to the AGF, Mr. Ambrose Momoh, declined comments saying, ‘’I am definitely not aware, you are the one putting me on notice now. I am just hearing it from you. As such, I cannot speak.”
Melaye in his petition to the Presidency with reference ACN/NEC. /CORRP. /VOL. 1/00.1, said that the reason was in support of the administration’s war against corruption.

“It is with absolute sense of humility, responsibility and patriotism that we are forwarding to your Excellency, one of our briefly chronicled cases of flagrant abuse of office by the Minister of Justice and  AGF, Mr. Mohammed Adoke.

“Your Excellency, we are conscious of all the visible efforts you are making to address various multifaceted challenges confronting our country today. We are also aware that for you to make good success of your efforts, you need a team of people whose integrity, commitment, proficiency and character as well as their body language must be visibly above board.

“We are equally conscious that all hands must be on deck to help realise the purpose of government, secure democracy and enhance good governance.

“It is in the light of this that we will continue to work in partnership with your Excellency to ensure a better Nigeria and desirable qualitative life for our people by exposing every inappropriate acts, behaviour and corrupt practices by those entrusted with leadership positions in public offices.

”We hope our submission in the attached document will receive your Excellency’s consideration and necessary action,” the letter stated, among others.

Jonathan not investigating me — Adoke

However, The Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice, AGF, Mr Mohammed Adoke, SAN, yesterday, refuted reports that he was under investigations on the orders of President Goodluck Jonathan over allegations of corruption and abuse of office leveled against him by anti-corruption crusader, Hon. Dino Melaye.

Hon. Melaye had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, IG, urging that Mr. Adoke be investigated for corruptly enriching himself.

The social media was by, yesterday afternoon, awash with reports that the IG had began the investigation of Mr. Adoke, as demanded by Hon. Melaye.

But Adoke’s lawyers, Ahmed Raji, SAN, quickly issued a statement to counter the reports.

According to Mr. Raji, although Mr. Adoke was being investigated, it was at the instance of the AGF, himself, following the allegations against him.

His words, “following the tendencious allegations made by one  Mr. Dino Melaye against the person of our Client, we wrote a letter dated 23rd April 2013 to the Inspector General of Police, wherein we requested the I.G to cause an investigation to be carried out in respect of all the allegations made by the said Mr. Dino Melaye.

“The current exercise being embarked upon by the police is therefore at the instance of our Client and not the President as being insinuated”.

Mr. Raji attached a copy of a 23rd April, 2013, in which he requested the IG to investigate Mr. Adoke in order to prove his innocence and that it was not the first time the AGF would submit himself to an investigation in his quest to clear his name.

“We want to place on record that this is not the first time our Client will be submitting himself to a public enquiry because he has nothing to hide. On a past occasion when our Client submitted himself, his accusers came apologising as they admitted that they were misled into publishing what was and is still patently false against him.

While our Client concedes the right of every individual to freedom of speech, it is our contention that the freedom goes with a duty. It is not a licence for anyone to make any unsubstantiated allegation against any individual.

“And this is why our Client has deemed it fit to invite the police authority to look into the allegations and make appropriate findings”, he said.

Melaye in his petition to the Presidency with reference ACN/NEC. /CORRP. /VOL. 1/00.1, said that the reason was in support of the administration’s war against corruption.
“It is with absolute sense of humility, responsibility and patriotism that we are forwarding to your Excellency, one of our briefly chronicled cases of flagrant abuse of office by the Minister of Justice and  AGF, Mr. Mohammed Adoke.

“Your Excellency, we are conscious of all the visible efforts you are making to address various multifaceted challenges confronting our country today. We are also aware that for you to make good success of your efforts, you need a team of people whose integrity, commitment, proficiency and character as well as their body language must be visibly above board.

“We are equally conscious that all hands must be on deck to help realise the purpose of government, secure democracy and enhance good governance.

“It is in the light of this that we will continue to work in partnership with your Excellency to ensure a better Nigeria and desirable qualitative life for our people by exposing every inappropriate acts, behaviour and corrupt practices by those entrusted with leadership positions in public offices.

”We hope our submission in the attached document will receive your Excellency’s consideration and necessary action,” the letter stated, among others.