Senator Ali Ndume’s Detention Over Maina Unfair –Arewa Group

AISHA ABUBAKAR

Northern youth group, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF, said that the arrest and detention of distinguished Senator Ali Ndume over his inability to produce fugitive former Pension boss, Abdurrashid Maina, was selective and unfair.

In a statement signed by Alhaji Yerima Shettima, National President, AYCF, the group said, “We, as a youth group from the North, find the arrest and remand in prison of Senator Ali Ndume because fugitive Abdurrashid Maina had jumped bail, as unfair”.
 “Much as we are not denying whether Abdurrashid Maina committed offence or not, we believe it amounts to setting bad example if Senator Abaribe, who stood surety for terrorist Nnamdi Kanu, is still walking the streets as a free man.”

“We cannot fathom why Senator Abaribe, who secured bail for IPOB’s Kanu, whose action has since been declared treasonable and terror to the country (and still on the run) has never ever been sanctioned for standing surety.”

“In the interest of equity, fairness and balance, Senator Abaribe should be immediately arrested  and remanded in prison too, until IPOB’s Kanu is turned it or he turns himself in.”

“Both Ndume and Abaribe are Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and therefore, Abaribe cannot be said to be higher in status than Ndume. Both are lawmakers by the grace of our National Constitution and the votes of their constituents.”

“Most importantly, we have a duty as a country to demonstrate that in this country, no one citizen is above the other. Significantly, Ndume’s case is such that Maina is still a “suspect” being tried by the law and no sentence has yet been handed down by any Court of competent jurisdiction. Still,this cannot be said of Nnamdi Kanu and his treason case.”

“We are therefore, very disturbed that this is happening to Ndume at a moment democratic power is mainly in the hands of people from Ndume’s immediate constituency. It is this kind of development that gives room for people to accuse the Federal Government of selective application of justice.”

“We therefore, call on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and put an end to this embarrassing selectivity against one of the North’s exceptionally-vocal, fearless and pro-masses member of the National Assembly.”