CNN Apologises To Atiku Over Report On Corruption Charge

Global news channel, Cable News Network (CNN), has apologised to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over allegations of corruption leveled against him and which the network had copiously reported.

"In a story in our December 8, 2007 telecast concerning corruption in Africa, it was reported that

former Nigerian Vice President Abubakar was indicted on corruption charges by Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

"Not included in that report was the fact that a Nigerian court subsequently dismissed the charges, finding that the charges were unfairly pursued against Mr. Abubakar and also noting that they were ‘grossly unconstitutional’ and a ‘deliberate usurpation of the judicial power,’" CNN said on Saturday evening in its INSIDE AFRICA programme monitored in Lagos.

"According to his attorney, there are no indictments pending against Mr. Abubakar in any jurisdiction," it added.

The issue of corruption was the major weapon the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo deployed against his deputy after they fell out on account of disagreement over political beliefs and state policies.

The ultimate aim of Obasanjo then was to stop the presidential ambition of Atiku and the EFCC, under Nuhu Ribadu, was used to execute that project through phony a indictment.

Atiku in turn explored legal means to clear his name and save his political career also.

Howver, less than 48 hours to the hearing of the suit by Atiku, challenging his indictment on alleged corrupt practices, the office of the Minister of Justice in December, 2006 formally released the government gazette on the matter.

The gazette, dated September 6, was signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Ufot Ekaette.

It contained the indictment of the Vice President by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and a panel raised by President Obasanjo, which was headed by the then Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Bayo Ojo (SAN).

The immediate aim of the gazette was to disqualify him from contesting for the office of president in the April 2007 election, which he nonetheless did on the platform of the Action Congress (AC) after he successfully secured judgment against the antics of the government.

Section 137 (1) (i) of the 1999 Constitution states: "A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if he has been indicted for embezzlement or fraud by a judicial commission of inquiry or an administrative panel of inquiry or a tribunal set up under the tribunals of inquiry act, a tribunals of inquiry law or any other law by the Federal or state government which indictment has been accepted by the Federal or state government respectively."

http://www.independentngonline.com/?c=162&a=9363

I'm beginning to think that all of the charges brought against a lot of the past governors, senators etc etc were figments of OBJ, Nuhu Ribadoo and Bayo Ojo. Could Alams have stolen so much as stated in the papers at that time, could Ibori and other governors presently standing trial have done so badly with government funds? No doubt, the real thieves are feeding fat somewhere, while people who did put something on ground are being ''unjustly'' punished.

ARE THEY SAYING ATIKU GOT RICH BY HONEST WORK?

This is not the issue at hand. We're talking here about the corruption charges brought against him by OBJ and his bulldog - Ribadoo Scooby doo, at a critical time in the political life of Atiku.

Much as I do not doubt the ''corruptness'' level of Atiku, recent happenings have indicated and brought to limelight the father of all the thieves during the OBJ locust years - OBJ himself and his little kids. And I believe OBJ is the most corrupt, morally decrepit, ungrateful old man walking the surface of the earth!

"In a story in our December 8, 2007 telecast concerning corruption in Africa, it was reported that

former Nigerian Vice President Abubakar was indicted on corruption charges by Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

"Not included in that report was the fact that a Nigerian court subsequently dismissed the charges, finding that the charges were unfairly pursued against Mr. Abubakar and also noting that they were ‘grossly unconstitutional’ and a ‘deliberate usurpation of the judicial power,’" CNN said on Saturday evening in its INSIDE AFRICA programme monitored in Lagos.

"According to his attorney, there are no indictments pending against Mr. Abubakar in any jurisdiction,"

[/quote]

I just couldn't find the phrase [quote]'we are sorry'

or

'we apologise'

in the statement above as Atiku and his men are making us to believe.

Apparently OBJ pursued Atiku so vehemently in order to exclude him from the election process. That Atiku is indicted should not have been used as an excuse to stop him from contesting the election because indictment by any means is not the same as conviction. What OBJ and EFCC did was like taking over the job of the judiciary by acting as if indictment is equal to conviction. However I believe that Atiku like OBJ is corrupt to high heavens. There is no way both of them can explain their source of stupendous wealth. Atiku was a civil servant in the customs, OBJ was a soldier who became the head of state, yet he is nothing more than a civil servant. So how can they explain the heap of wealth upon which they sit. I believe both of them should be investigated and every other civil servant who became miraculously rich by abusing the position of trust given to them by the masses cnn or no cnn

I dont support Atiku, however the crude manner by which Obasanjo tried to destroy Atiku along with the exalted office of the VICE-PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA really worried me.
That behaviour is as insane as cutting off the head because of headache. The right way was impeachment not declaring the seat of a SITTING vice-president vacant!

His friend in kenya is doing similar devilish exploits. And for CNN, just admitting to d whole world that there was an error on their part is more than saying "we are sorry'', "we apologize".