Travel Ban: We Have Not Released Any List Of Nigerians Affected – Presidency

Says No travel ban list
Says Executive Order 6 not a political weapon

The Presidesays the Executive Order 6 is not a political weapon
against the opposition, but a part of the revolutionary efforts to
rid Nigeria of the menace of corruption.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President
on Media and Publicity, stated this in a statement in Abuja on
Sunday.

The presidential aide was reacting to cross sections of
divergence views on the commencement of the implementation of the
EO6 by the federal government.

According to him, in the history of independent Nigeria, this is
the first time any government is taking such a key decision to
fight corruption.

Shehu dismissed the insinuation in some quarters that the
activation of the EO 6 was targeted at some individuals or
politicians in the country.

He said: “EO 6 is not only revolutionary to the efforts to rid
Nigeria of corruption but a manifestation of systemic changes that
are required to make necessary adjustments as we carry on with the
war against corruption.

“The very essence of the order is to make for speedy trials and
conclusion of graft cases.

“The order is not politics and there is political gain behind
its activation.

“These high profile cases we are talking about have been ongoing
for between seven to 10 years with no end in sight. These cases
were mostly originated by administrations other than this one.

“What is clear is that the access to these resources by the
suspects has enabled them to be in a composition to sometime
compromise investigation, prosecution and trial.’’

He further explained that, in most of the cases, the courts were
held in a helpless position by legal acrobatics paid for from
corrupt enrichment by the suspects.

He, therefore, expressed the hope that the new measures put in
place would compel everyone involved to make for a speedy
conclusion of these cases.

“If it is your money, you have it back. If it belongs to the
public, it goes back to the treasury,’’ he said.

Shehu added that the question of the constitutionality of the
restriction order had been answered by the fact that “a court of
the land has given government a clean chit.’’

“The Executive Order is legal and constitutional and therefore
implementable.

“One of the cardinal objectives of the government under our
constitution is to fight corruption. Fighting corruption is a
responsibility and obligation upon the government,’’ he further
maintained.

On the so-called list of those affected by the EO 6, the
presidential aide said: “I want to confirm to you that we have not
issued any list and we are not doing so.

“These cases that are well known and to say this or that name is
on it will open the door to further accusations, including trial by
media.

“The Immìgration Service and other security agencies have the
mandate of the President to carry out enforcement and they will do
so giving due respects to individual rights, in line with the
constitution.’’

It would be recalled that the presidency had on Saturday
announced that following the implementation of the EO 6, 50
prominent personalities (whose names were not stated) were placed
on a watch-list and, therefore, restricted from leaving the country
pending the determination of their cases.

The order seeks to restrain owners of assets under investigation
from carrying out any further transaction on such assets.

But, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had condemned
the activation of the EO 6, saying the federal government’s ban of
50 Nigerians from travelling abroad was a direct clampdown on
democratic order.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan,
issued a statement on Sunday describing the restriction as an
attempt by the Buhari administration to foist a full-blown fascism
on the country.

He said: “We hope this is not a ploy to harm certain eminent
Nigerians on the claims of resisting travel restrictions.

“The PDP further notes that this “decree” is a direct clampdown
on our democratic order and an overthrow of rights of our citizenry
as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”

(NAN)