With the several staggering discoveries of a former Petroleum Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke’s alleged loots running into billions of dollars, and the many forfeiture orders given by the courts on these funds; Nigerians have most likely taken it for granted that once she is tried by a Nigerian court she must be found guilty and jailed accordingly.
This has thus triggered calls from several quarters for her immediate extradition. It is but painful that Nigerians have a very short memory or a very forgiving heart at the expense of justice! Sometimes early in the life of this government, similar calls were made for the extradition of former Minister of state for Defense, Mr. Obanikoro among others, because of overwhelming evidences and testimony from co-conspirators cum beneficiaries.
Today, he walks a free man and would soon come out again to declare his interest to contest. Whereas if he had received a jury trial, aside having the greatest certainty of justice thoroughly dispensed with a longer jail sentence; he would have been forced to drop every future political ambition and never be able to face Nigerians that sent him to jail using our position as jurors.
On the other hand, Mrs. Diezani and the former NSA Colonel Sambo Dasuki’ have become political prisoners of the Federal government, essentially for lack of confidence in the judges. Yet, they believe like most Nigerians that these prisoners have committed financial treasonable offence. Therefore, the government is on overdrive to put them behind bars to appease Nigerians.
The dilemma is: would Mrs Diezani be unwilling to buy her freedom for as ‘little’ as $1Billion if brought before these same judges facing corruption charges by the Federal Government. Infact, she would even rub it into our faces by contesting elections in future using the proceeds from her enormous loots?
Therefore, which is better for us: a jury comprising Nigerians as jurors to sit in court on these cases, or we are prepared to resign to fate and let only judges decide what the definition of corruption is in our society and nation?
Are we willing to take yet another risk with the Diezani case, just like we have done with several others acquitted and recycled back as our leaders; or are we going to brace up and become jurors willing and ready take back our nation, assisting judges in our capacity as jurors to decide what behaviors are best for our nation, and who is guilty of corruption amongst us?!
Ogene Eshomomoh, a jury justice system advocate wrote from Lagos.
