Agbakoba to Tinubu: implement Uwais Report
…lauds President over Executive Order 9 Legal luminary Chief Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) yesterday urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to set up the electoral offences tribunal as recommended by the Electoral
...lauds President over Executive Order 9
Legal luminary Chief Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) yesterday urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to set up the electoral offences tribunal as recommended by the Electoral Reforms Panel headed by Justice Mohammed Uwais.
He said the special court would halt the incidence of electoral fraud that had marred the electoral process and boost public confidence in the ballot box.
Agbakoba, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), who spoke with reporters in Lagos on national issues, hailed President Tinubu for issuing Executive Order Nine, which aligns with the 1999 Constitution.
The Executive Order directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to remit its revenues directly to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and stripped the company of its revenue deduction powers, as provided by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
Agbakoba advised the Attorney-General and Justice Minister, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to the Supreme Court for clarification, or the PIA Act should be amended to reflect the dictates of the constitution.
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He said, "We applaud President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for reclaiming Nigeria's sovereignty by signing the Executive Order directing the direct remittance of oil and gas revenues to the Federation Account."
Urging the president to revisit the Uwais Report, he said the onus should be on the electoral referee, that is, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to prove to the court that it conducted a free and fair election, instead of the petitioner who was chested.
He also said cases of rigging can only be halted if there is a special tribunal for the speedy trial of electoral offenders.
Agbakoba believes more credible Nigerians will enter politics if the process is free and fair.
He blamed the opposition for the defection that had hit their ranks, lamenting that they had neglected the politics of issues and ideology.
He said politicians, instead of getting involved in issue-based campaigns, only gather for funfair at weddings and funerals where they laugh.
Agbakoba said the lack of policy discussion and indulgence in politics of vandalism and fighting underscored the devaluation of politics.
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He hailed President Tinubu’s decision on the PIA, saying that "we have money, we don't know how to gather it."
Agbakoba said the Executive Order "is the strongest decision ever made by President Tinubu," adding that "the wisdom of God descended on Tinubu and he did the right thing."
Noting the debate on whether the Executive Order can override legislation, he said the issue can be decided by the Supreme Court.
Agbakoba said, "The NNPC should have no regulatory or statutory power and should only exist like other oil companies."
He also suggested that Customs and Immigration should be fused into a structure to be known as 'Border Force,' stressing that they are not expected to be revenue-generating agencies.
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Agbakoba said their current role of revenue generation should be transferred to the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
He said, "Revenues are scattered, and I don't know how the Minister of Finance can account for the whole revenue of the country."
The legal luminary, who also pointed out that a lot of money escapes from the country through shipping, added that before the country spends, it must realistically plan to raise money."
He also said that borrowing for funding would end if the oil sector were properly rearranged to ensure that Nigeria has more revenue.
Agbakoba said Nigeria can hit a N1.5 Quadrillion economy if its resources are properly harnessed.
