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Iyabogate and Obasanjo's Anti-Corruption Crusade - Cont'd
Senator Iyabo deserves the benefit of doubt, and has the right to live her life outside the shadow of her father. However, the case is not that simple. Iyabogate has thrown up legal and moral issues. On the legal front, the laws of the land are there to address this. M. Schneider has demanded that the laws of the land be interpreted to determine if there was any wrongdoing by Senator Iyabo. Some legal luminaries have come out to state that impersonation is criminal, and attracts a jail term. That is for the EFCC,
ICPC, the Senate and the law courts to decide, and dispense quick justice as appropriate.
On the moral side, in the court of public opinion, niceties of the fine points of law does not amount
to much. You either did the right thing, or did the wrong thing. Iyabo
knew that floating a company to bid for federal contracts, while still serving
as a Commissioner in Ogun State, and being the daughter of the President is
conflict of interest, big time. She admitted that much. It is yet to be seen if the public is convinced that using an alias makes it okay. Especially when her father loomed larger than life, fighting corruption across the land. As far as the people's paliament is concerned, Obasanjo's daughter formed a company to win contracts from her father. That is what the man on the street thinks. They dont understand law or big grammar.
Worse still, they believe Iyabo was acting on behalf of her father. This may or may not be true, but the damage has been done. How Iyabo, PhD and all could not foresee this beats the imagination.
Iyabo may win in court, but she has damaged what is left of Baba Iyabo's
anti-corruption credentials beyond repairs. Before EFCC calls, the honorable
thing to do is to resign her Chairmanship of the Senate Committe on Health.
After Ettehgate, Nigerians do not need another long drawn out saga, although the
revelations that will arise therefrom will throw more light on what realing went
on behind the scenes, while Baba was fighting corruption. Nigerians are left
with an uncomfortable feeling that we aint seen nothing yet...
The EFCC is in receipt of a petition demanding that Baba Iyabo explians where he
got the funds to revive his businesses, build Bells University, acquire massive
real estate, buy Transcorp shares etc. By the time the dust finally settles,
Baba Iyabo will jolly well have his day in court. Then, and only then can we
truly say that in the fight against corruption, nobody is above the law...
By NigeriaGalleria Editorial Team
December 2007
Continued from Page 1
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