Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the suspension of Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, and Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdul Rasheed Bawa.
Agbakoba also commended the president for putting an end to what he referred to as fuel subsidy and forex corruption. However, he quickly called on the president to take the next step, which he believes should be the dismantling of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a statement released in Lagos on Thursday, Agbakoba stated that with the actions taken by President Tinubu in the early days of his leadership, “endemic corruption has suffered a massive blow.”
He expressed his full congratulations to President Tinubu for removing Emefiele and Bawa, as well as addressing fuel subsidy and forex corruption. Agbakoba emphasized the significant impact these measures have had in combating systemic corruption. He then urged the president to dismantle INEC as the next crucial step.
Agbakoba, a former president of the NBA, called for a thorough cleansing of INEC, stating that the 2023 elections were the most logistically flawed in Nigeria’s history. He clarified that he was not referring to the merits of the election results, as many results are currently disputed and undergoing tribunal proceedings. Agbakoba asserted that both petitioners and respondents suffered due to the incompetence of INEC.
He demanded that comprehensive reforms of the electoral framework commence while the country awaited court rulings. Agbakoba argued that this would require the resignation or removal of INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, as his continued presence would impede the reform process.
Agbakoba emphasized that his suggestion had nothing to do with the merits of the election results, as winners and losers alike were victims of INEC’s failure. He stated that a deep cleansing of INEC would enhance confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.
“I would like to quickly add that the suggested reforms have nothing to do with the merits of election results at all. Both winners and losers of the elections were victims of the failure of INEC. Confidence in Nigeria’s democracy will be enhanced by a deep cleansing of INEC,” he concluded.
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