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The Nigerian disease called ‘slumping’

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You may have known the other diseases which have inflicted many Nigerians, one which should be a matter of concern to researchers. This disease appears to inflict only serving or out of office political officers who are being investigated for certain misdemeanors.

I am tempted to think that the political landscape is replete with a number of public officers’ names who have collapsed on live TV while answering questions from lawmakers or in the court before a judge over mismanagement of funds meant for its use for a particular purpose that would benefit the people generally.

I may not start in any order of importance or of the veracity of the case such a personality is involved, but truth be told, what we are worried about is the treatment such an official is taking the case to. It is high time we took a look at the situation given its importance; otherwise, it will become a tradition anyone could feign ill-health so long as such a person is being accused for corruption related case.

We are all aware that the NDDC has been the subject of massive mismanagement, reports have indicated lately. Regrettably, we are told by the management, however, that all expenditure was justified including a sizeable sum for the sum which was used for Covid-19. See how gullible we can we get!

Daniel Pondei, the then acting managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) who collapsed on live TV whiles answering questions from lawmakers over mismanagement of funds allocated to a development commission in the country’s oil-rich region.

For that, the committee eventually hurriedly dismissed him as some members were heard asking that an ambulance be called in. He was helped out of the auditorium with the aid of a policeman and two other men.

The president has been quoted as saying, ‘I have made it clear to the National Assembly and our investigating and law enforcement agencies to pursue better coordination in their work, so that the shared goal of ensuring sanity, transparency and accountability of dedicated funds can be achieved. All investigating agencies and auditing firms currently working collaboratively with National Assembly Committees to audit and reposition the NDDC must act with urgency and a sense of purpose, and ensure that I am kept informed of any and all actions being taken.”

The list is daily getting longer and it appears there is no stopping us from getting more into the fold of public officials that are neck-deep into taking from the public till. Below is a recollection of the drama that had taken place in the last couple of years as published by THEWILL. There are areas that may not be direct quotation from the above.

The above scenario brings to mind the case of AbdulRasheed Maina, former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reformed Taskforce Team (PRTT), who became the ‘latest addition to the other Nigerian public officials that have created a dramatic scene during court trial or on National television.

He recently collapsed in the dock during the resumed hearing in his N2billion money laundering trial at the Federal High Court, Abuja; making Nigerians to have branded his action as same old trick used by top government officials in the country.

He was extradited from the Niger Republic to Nigeria after he jumped bail and escaped from the country. In fact, Maina’s purported ill-health has been a major reason for his prolonged trial. In November 2019, his trial was stalled after a medical expert testified to his inability to appear before the court due to health reasons.

Dino Melaye, a Nigerian politician that represented Kogi West Senatorial district in the 8th National Assembly, is one of them. Arguably one of the most dramatic politicians in Nigeria, as no Nigerian politician feeds off controversy like him.

In April 2018, Melaye jumped out of a moving police van as he was being transported to face criminal charges in Kogi State.

On January 4, 2019, Melaye surrendered to the police after a seven-day siege was placed on his Abuja Maitama residence. Police officers had invaded his Abuja home on Friday, December 28, 2018 to arrest him for his alleged involvement in the shooting of a police officer, Danjuma Saliu, a Sergeant in July 2018.

Minutes after his surrender, Melaye slumped and was assisted to the police car. On arrival at the police headquarters, he appeared very weak and could not walk by himself and had to be helped into the office where he slumped again as he was breathing heavily. He was said to be asthmatic.

In 2019, Senator Dino Melaye slept outside the DSS hospital after he was moved there by police personnel insisting that he would not enter the DSS medical facility until he was told why he was moved from the Police Hospital in Abuja.

Olisa Metuh is a Nigerian lawyer, politician and the former National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP. He was arrested in 2016 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) for the N400 million he and his company Destra Investment Limited allegedly received from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in 2014.

His drama started following a confusion caused by his sudden collapse in the court. The development forced the presiding judge, Justice Okon Abang, to stand down the matter for almost half an hour to enable medical officials attend to him.

On February 5, 2018, Metuh appeared in court on a stretcher after Justice Abang ruled that he would have his bail revoked if he didn’t show up for the continuation of his trial. Again on March 14, 2018, Metuh appeared in court on a wheelchair. And on May 21, 2018, he collapsed while making his way to the dock for cross-examination.

After making several court appearances coupled with slumping dramas, Metuh was found guilty of money laundering and sentenced to seven years in prison on February 25, 2020.

Remember this too? Peter Ayodele Fayose is a former governor of Ekiti State. He is best known for one his famous line “I am in pains”, “I am in severe pains” acting on national television.

Fayose cried while speaking on Channels Television in 2018, saying he was in pains after he was allegedly “shot at” and manhandled by security agents. He then broke down into tears, lamenting “I cannot take this anymore” before crawling away from the camera.

“How can I be Governor of Ekiti State and be treated like this in my own country? My people, I call on all of you: Stand and remain standing,” he said to the crowd. “I will go back to the hospital for a while to rest… I am having a lot of pains, but I prefer to bear these pains because of you. I prefer to bear these pains because of you…” Fayose said amidst sobs.

A former GOC faced court martial in wheelchair over the alleged diversion of N400m by five runaway soldiers attached to the division in September 2019.

He appeared to be ill and was brought into the court on a wheelchair, having beside him medical officers of the Nigerian Army who monitored him during the trial.

On June 16, 2020 a military court headed by the army’s chief of policy and plans, Lamidi Adeosun, found Mr. Otiki guilty of disobedience to service orders, theft of public property, diverting operational money and engaging in private businesses.

The tribunal ordered that he should be demoted from major general to brigadier general and dismissed.

Haliru Bello Mohammed, a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, appeared before the Federal High Court, Abuja, sitting in a wheelchair.

The EFCC had on December 26, 2015, filed a four-count charge of money laundering against the politician for his alleged role in the diversion of funds meant for the procurement of arms in the office of the National Security Adviser.

The truth is that Nigerians are tired of same script by government officials, who have been alleged to put their hands in the public till.

The monitored reactions by some Nigerians online after news broke out that Maina also slumped during his court trial on Thursday, were indicative of the angst in the land against such actions.

A twitter user identified as Sammie said “This is never a serious country. We have not recovered from Prof. Pondei’s fainting and Maina is slumping. Many pensioners died because of his reckless act, pls can the judge sentence him to death recklessly too, until strict laws are taken corruption will always become a tradition.”

Loho Samuel wrote “Very popular act! When the heat is on, they become like Pete Edochie and Ramsey Noah. I think these guys deserve Oscars for their acting proficiency.”

Ogheneochuko said “I think certain English clubs need to start employing the service of Nigeria politicians. They are so skilled with different tactics to manoeuvre their way out of difficult situations.”

Abi Baiyewu tweeted, “The content on Nollywood has improved over time. Public office entertainers in Nigeria are yet to catch on. Same ol’, same ol’. Our dear #Maina followed the traditional courtroom script.”

Ebitu Promise said: “What’s really the mystery behind these politicians slumping when it’s time to question them about their corrupt activities.”

The land can be healed if medication is found for the disease. Nations don’t survive on this attitude. Nations are built on the sincerity of its leaders; who propel their followers to take the right steps to build; and not destroy. 

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