The Oxford Dictionary, among other things, defines trial as “a formal examination of evidence in order to decide guilt in a criminal or civil proceedings”. The term does not necessarily imply guilt; it is a process towards establishing guilt or not. Therefore, it may not be a dishonourable thing to stand trial. In some instances, trial is necessary to establish credibility, particularly against the background of persistent accusations and innuendoes. It is based on the foregoing that it is necessary for Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who has been formally and legally accused of conducting himself in gross violation of the Constitution with regard to his use of government funds while he was the governor of Edo State between 2008 and 2016, to submit himself for scrutiny.
In a bid to browbeat Oshiomhole’s critics to submission, his supporters have always pointed their fingers to the past, comparing Oshiomhole to Chief Lucky Igbinedion, his predecessor in office. What they conveniently omit is that Lucky Igbinedion went through the three stages of trial – petition, investigation and prosecution. The foundation of trial is the petition. Without the petition, investigation may not take place. Without investigation, prosecution cannot take place. It is only when we get to prosecution that an indictment may be said to have been established. This is the fear of those that are resisting Oshiomhole’s investigation by the EFCC despite his having been petitioned. Meanwhile at this point in the process, EFCC is actually in breach of the Act that established it. It is mandatory for the EFCC to investigate any petition it receives.
Oshiomhole and the EFCC would be doing Nigeria a great service if they allowed the investigation of Oshiomhole to take place in this present administration when he is the National Chairman of the ruling party, APC. On the one hand, it is a test of integrity for the party and presidency that claim to have zero intolerance for corruption, whether engaged in, in the past or in the present. On the other hand, prosecuting a leading member of the opposition has always been an issue viewed from the perception of a witch-hunt. Therefore, Oshiomhole would actually be protected from being a subject of a perceived witch-hunt in future. It would be naïve to say that the fear or claim of witch-hunt is not tenable. There are glaring cases of witch-hunt. In the present circumstance however, the incumbent government has no political motive for seeking an indictment of their own National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. Therefore, is incumbent on President Muhammadu Buhari President to, in the absence of compelling the EFCC Chairman to commence the investigation of the petitions against Adams Oshiomhole, bring into play, much-celebrated body language.
Although, the EFCC’s hesitance in investigating the petition against Comrade Adams Oshiomhole predates his election as the National Chairman of the APC, his present position seems to have conferred on him a natural immunity. The anti graft agency, has not been able to demonstrate convincingly, its independence from the whims and caprices of the ruling party and the presidency, since their inception in 2015.
If for political expediency, the APC and EFCC refuse to look into the allegations against Oshiomhole, they may just be delaying the evil day, to a time when the APC may no longer be in power. The predicament of former governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye and former governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame, comes to mind. Credit for their prosecution should rightly be given to the previous administration of the PDP, a party in which the convicts were governors. It is no overstate the fact that the PDP has demonstrated more political will and credibility in prosecuting an objective anti corruption campaign. The APC has seemingly made the EFCC a hound dog led only after members of the opposition and renegade members of the ruling party.
Without doubt, the trial of Adams Oshiomhole may have become a matter of honour from which must be derived, one of three scenarios: (1) projecting the integrity of the APC, (2) absolving Oshiomhole of guilt or otherwise and (3) giving closure for Edo people. No matter the delay, just as the day always breaks, the trial of the former Comrade Governor is what cannot be wished away because the things he is accused of are tangible and accessible. For instance, we have on ground and on record, the multi-billion naira luxurious estate in Iyamho, Edo State; the multi-million naira mansion on Okoro-Otun Street, Benin City; the former Guinness Guest House, G.R.A, Benin City; the N30billion Benin Storm Water Project; the commissioned but locked up “Five Star” Central Hospital, Benin City; the controversial multi-billion Security Votes and sundry others. Most of these are contained in the November 2016 petition written and submitted to the EFCC by Bishop Anthony Osadolor Ochei.
Finally, let me state that Oshiomhole has no morality to shout thief and be leading his party to hound thieves if he continues to keep his own cupboard suspected to contain skeletons shut. It is ample time for the EFCC to examine the evidence of Oshiomhole’s alleged acts of gross financial crimes. There is honour in trial, and Oshiomhole should not be denied of this honour.
