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AONDOAKA IN THE NEWS AGAIN? ...he should be tamed

Aondoakaa in the news again? He should be tamed 

 By: Oriaifoh Godwins 

 I read a piece written by one Omar Yahaya titled “Aondoakaa’s insatiable ambition, need for caution” regarding the several fraudulent practices of a one-time Attorney General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Aondoaka, with respect to his clandestine plans to blackmail and intimidate some persons just because he wants to take over Benue Hotels; Its appalling and disappointing for a man of his status, in spite of all the wealth he has acquired over the years, to again begin to swim in Murky waters in an attempt to acquire what belongs to his State, Benue State. Omar Yahaya chronicled some of Aondoaka’s past financial atrocities, but after researching into them, more revelations emerged. For instance, it can be recalled that the fight against Ribadu by Aondoakaa, intensified as a result of Ribadu’s insistence to prosecute the former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori as a result of the chain of fraudulent financial allegations against Ibori, who is a close friend to Aondoakaa. Again, in February 2009, only weeks after Mr. Ribadu was dismissed from the Police Force, Aondoakaa filed charges against him before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, alleging that he did not declare his assets upon resumption of duties as EFCC boss as required by law. This was clearly an action pointing to personal vendetta as a result of Ribadu not giving him the opportunity to protect fraudsters. Nigerians has not forgotten so soon, the allegations against Aondoakaa with respect to his refusal to co-operate with foreign investigators and prosecutors in cases involving Nigerians, despite the existence of Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLAT) between Nigeria and the concerned foreign governments. For example, In 2007, a letter from the United Kingdom’s Director of Public Prosecution, (DPP) Ken McDonalds, to the AGF’s office, lamented that, “…the difficulty and lack of progress in obtaining hard evidence from Nigeria, is causing major difficulties in relation to the court proceedings in the United Kingdom and putting a number of prosecution cases in Jeopardy." Again, Aondoakaa in Sept. 2007 was fingered to have made an attempt to stall proceedings in a case that involved Dan Etete, a one time Minister of oil. In spite of Aondoakaa’s efforts however, Dan Etete was eventually convicted in absentia and sentenced to three years imprisonment as well as fines that runs into hundreds of thousands of Euros. Mr. Aondoakaa was also said to be involved in covering up those implicated in the Halliburton, Wulbros and Siemens Scandals. The integrity of Aondoakaa has always been in doubt when civil society groups protested against him. Nigerians has not forgotten the “AONDOAKAA MUST GO” protests. That was when the Head of Transparency International in Nigeria, Ishola Williams publicly called on President Musa Yar’Adua to sack Mr. Aondoakaa as a result of the several allegations of his involvements in fraudulent practices. The question that now comes to mind, is: "will our leaders ever learn? If they will, when will that be?" Going by the report of Omar Yahaya, as well as the foregoing, the relevant authorities and stakeholders in Benue State in particular and Nigeria in general, must rise against this excessive greed of Mr. Aondoakaa in his attempt to arm twisting some persons, and applying blackmailing and intimidation tactics to have his way; as the Benue populace will ultimately be at the receiving end if he eventually succeed. All relevant authorities should nip Aondoakaa’s insatiable greed and avarice in the bud before it gets out of hand. Our leaders’ fraudulent activities has caused several hardships to Nigerians; as their attitude in frivolously acquiring for themselves what belongs to the public, has caused and is still causing several hardships to the populace.

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