A
Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights activist, Mr. Mike Ozekhome, has
backed the Senate in its approval of a former governorship aspirant in Lagos
State, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, as a minister.
There
had been a mild drama in the upper house, on Wednesday, with senators of the
All Progressives Congress walking out of the chamber and another almost
attacking a colleague of the opposition, in protest of Obanikoro’s
recommendation.
The
senators cited Obanikoro’s implication in “very sensitive issues that touch on
national interest,” and court cases, among their reasons for opposing his
nomination.
But
Ozekhome, in an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, said there was no reason to
refuse the one time Lagos State governorship candidate such an appointment
based on allegations that had not been proven in court.
He
said, “Our system of justice ceased to be accusatorial and it has become
inquisitorial. Until our system of justice goes according to the recommendation
of the National Conference last year, which states that it is a person rather
than the state that will prove his innocence, our criminal system of justice
will continue to recognise that one is deemed innocent until proven guilty.
“Obanikoro
was accused of being one of those whose voices were on a tape in connection
with an alleged rigging of elections in Ekiti State. Not only did he deny it,
he went to court. He is in court because he wants to prove that he did not do
it. Even if Obanikoro has a criminal case against him, he has not been
convicted by a court of law. Should that stigmatise him to prevent him from
enjoying anything?
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