The "Big Thieves" Have Lost Their Sense of Shame, Prosecute All Of Them – Falana

Popular human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore those criticising the arrest and detention of ex-National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki; the Chairman of Daar Communications, Raymond Dokpesi; and others in the $2.1bn arms purchase scam.

Falana faulted the allegations by some lawyers that the order obtained by the EFCC from a magistrate's court to detain some of the suspects for 14 days had no legal basis.

He explained that the order of detention obtained from the magistrate’s court, through an ex parte application, was in strict compliance with the provisions of sections 293 to 299 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

He added that the suspects were at liberty to ask for bail under the law.

“As corruption is already mobilising to fight back, the Buhari administration should ignore the reckless campaign of calumny of certain people, who have lost their sense of shame,” Falana said.

He noted that as far as the said critics were concerned, “the suspects should be left alone to enjoy their loot while soldiers are losing their precious lives due to lack of adequate weapons”.

The senior advocate urged the FG to open a dedicated account for the warehousing of recovered loot, which should be used to provide equipment for the Armed Forces and take care of pressing public needs.

Falana added, “The anti-graft agencies should disregard the cheap blackmail, speed up the investigation and charge all indicted suspects to court while the courts are enjoined to conduct the trial of the suspects under the ACJA, which requires that the trials be conducted day by day.

“The Federal Government should open a dedicated account to warehouse the recovered loot with a view to using the fund to provide equipment for the Armed Forces, create jobs for our Army of unemployed graduates and fix our dilapidated public schools, hospital and roads.”