Police grill Olajengbesi over petition against minister, Uchechukwu Ogah

LAGOS, Nigeria – National Coordinator, Coalition of Public Interests Lawyers and Advocates (COPA), Mr. Pelumi Olajengbesi has been interrogated by the Nigeria Police over his petition calling for reopening of investigation into alleged gross corrupt practices and financial crimes levied against serving Minister of State for Mining and Steel, Mr. Uchechukwu Ogah which remains inconclusive.

In a statement, the COPA, Coordinator, said at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, the police officers acted professionally and with courtesy during the course of the questioning and interrogation.

“I do therefore commend their professionalism and must express my hope and confidence in the agency to be thorough, swift and unbiased in its independent verification of the issues before it in this matter”, he said, adding that he was thereafter released on self-recognizance but that he will continue to aid the Nigeria Police Force, and indeed related agencies, in this investigation from a sense of duty as a citizen and in pursuit of justice in this matter”, he said.

Going forward, Pelumi Olajengbesi said he remains resolute on the path he has taken on this matter which is for the review and thorough investigation of the allegations made against Mr. Uchechukwu Ogah who, being a minister under the anti-corruption government of Mr. President, must therefore be held up to the highest test of integrity through private and institutional scrutiny.

“I am undeterred and cannot be bullied into silence over this matter as what is right must not be defeated by a display of cowardice to the status of the accused.

“Several calls have been made to my phone by unknown and faceless individuals perhaps in a bid to intimidate and harass me into silence on this matter, but while such antics are predictable, it is poor statesmanship on the parts of those unidentified individuals seeking to stop a call for an investigation into allegations of corrupt practices on the part of a serving minister of the federal republic of Nigeria”, he said, stressing that as a good governance group and pro-transparency advocates, the Coalition of Public Interest Lawyers & Advocates (COPA) are adamant on the call for the re-opening of the criminal investigations levied against Mr. Uchechukwu Ogah, State Minister for Mining & Steel, as only its review and conclusion can satisfy public interest and policy.

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“I share the concern(s) of the general public which has been expressed in the media that the political status of the accused may undermine the investigation.

” I am, however, equally confident that the long arms of the law cannot be bent from its intent if driven by the rule of law which demands that the process of justice must pay no mind nor respect to persons for reason of class or status.

“The spotlight and attention is therefore on the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Police to act decisively and without prejudice on the allegations and verifiable material facts before it in this matter in order to restore sanity to the system and shore up public trust.

“I must conclude by reiterating my resolution to pursue this matter to the best of my ability and see that justice is done in the matter regardless of whose ox is gored. I am emboldened by the distractions considered threats and harassment, and will simply not be cowed.

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“Let it be abundantly clear to the Hon. Minister that we shall not hesitate to catalyse the instrumentality of the law to compel and mandate the Nigeria Police Force to conclude the matter it has taken to court against the Hon. Minister”, Pelumi Olajengbesi insisted.