Jigawa Convicts 403 #EndBadGovernance Protesters, Explains Withdrawal From Suit Against EFCC/ICPC

By Mohammed Abubakar Dutse

Jigawa State has confirmed the conviction of 403 #EndBadGovernance protesters as it explained that withdrawal from suit challenging legality of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) was taken in the overall best interest of the state.

The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Bello Abdulkadir Fanini, disclosed these at a media briefing in Dutse, on Saturday, maintaining that the actions were in the overall interest of the state.

He also explained that the whole of the 403 suspects, who were arrested during the August 1-10 #EndBadGovernance protest against the federal government have been effectively convicted and handed over various sentences.

Also, he said that he had on Thursday submitted a notice of discontinuance at the Supreme Court, officially withdrawing the state as a plaintiff in the case, which was initially filed by the Kogi State Attorney General against the EFCC.

Fanini, who declined to define ‘The best interest of the state”, told reporters that, going into the details of the matter would be prejudicial as the matter was still pending, but all I can tell you for now is that, we withdrew from the case in court in the interest of the state and the state withdrew in its own interest.

“What we said is that we’re simply withdrawing from the case, you can decide to take case to court to seek interpretation and to particular interest of yours and you can decide not to or you’ve got another way of realising that interest and simply withdraw.

“I’m sure you’re aware of what is refered to as alternative dispute resolution, (ADR), So, you can take somebody to court to pursue a particular interest and you can find another way of achieving that particular interest and reach amicable settlement and withdraw from the case.”

Jigawa’s latest decision is in consonance with that of Benue State, which also reconsidered its position regarding the case while awaiting the judgement and filed its notice of discontinuance on the same day.

Before then, two other states joined Anambra, Adamawa, and Ebonyi, which had initiated a wave of withdrawals from the lawsuit during Tuesday’s Supreme Court hearing.

The official who confirmed the conviction of the #EndBadGovernance protesters said “The entire 403 persons were prosecuted, what that means is that they were charged to court for one offence or another.

“Majority of them pleaded guilty so they were summarily convicted and sentenced to community service, which they quickly did and were released.

‘However, there were very few of them that have serious cases to answer. Even those ones too have been released on bail, while investigations are still ongoing and their case would be charged upon the completion of their investigations.”