CCB Gets Petition Against Ex-CJN Belgore – TheNigerialawyer

THE Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has received a petition on
former Chief of Justice of Nigeria Alfa Belgore,
TheNation reports.^[1]

Belgore was accused of testifying against the country in favour
of Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID), which secured a
$9.6b arbitral award against Nigeria.

The petition was filed by Human and Environmental Development
Agenda (HEDA), whose Chairman, Comrade Suraj Olanrewaju, was
invited by the CCB to adopt the petition on oath.

The CCB demanded evidence of any alleged infraction that might
have been committed by Justice Belgore from HEDA.

The group accused Belgore of alleged conflict of interest and
violation of Section 5 of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers
of the 1999 Constitution.

It added: “Based on the foregoing, it is succinct to point out
the basis for this petition. From the above relayed, there is a
clear case of conflict of interest which is backed up
constitutionally by the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.
Specifically, Section 1 of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers
which states that a public officer shall not put himself in a
position where his personal interest conflicts with his duties and
responsibilities.

“Section 5 of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers of the
1999 Constitution goes further and directly prohibits former
presidents, vice presidents, Chief Justices of Nigeria, governors
and Deputy Governors from working for foreign companies or
enterprises. The former CJN falls under this category and also is
still the chairman of the National Merit Honour Award Committee,
which confers him with a sense of patriotism and loyalty to the
country.

“It can be concluded, without equivocation, that drafters of the
Constitution understand the weight of the offices occupied by the
prohibited officers and the potential implication of actions such
as that taken by the former CJN.

“The act he allegedly committed is grave and amounts to a breach
of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, thereby violating the
provisions of the Constitution.

“By accepting the contract from P&ID and proffering the
expert advice for the Irish company for a fee, the former CJN
violated the provisions of the Constitution and also exposes
privileged and sensitive national information to foreign private
company. Also, he ran contrary to this provision by also accepting
the appointment as the chairman of Airtel Nigeria.”

HEDA urged the CCB to investigate and prosecute Belgore if he is
found guilty of violating Section 5 of the Code of Conduct for
Public Officers.

It said: “We most humbly believe that the former CJN, by this
act, runs foul of the Constitution in the circumstances of the
Section 23 (1) & (2) of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers
of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that the tribunal has the
powers to impose punishment.

“(1) Where the Tribunal finds a public officer guilty of
contravening any of the provisions of this Act, it shall impose
upon that officer any of the punishments specified under subsection
(2) of this section.

(2) The punishment which the Tribunal may impose shall include
any of the following (a) vacation of office or any elective or
nominated office, as the case may be;

(b) disqualification from holding any public office (whether
elective or not) for a period not exceeding ten years; and

(c) seizure and forfeiture to the State of any property acquired
in abuse or corruption of office”.

“Based on the above stated provisions, we hereby demand the
following:

That Belgore should be investigated and prosecuted immediately
for violating Section 5 of the Code of Conduct for Public
Officers.

That as a result of this breach and upon conviction, the former
CJN be removed with immediate effect as Chairman of the National
Merit Honour Committee

“Our demand is hinged on our resilient and persistent demand for
democracy, accountability, transparency and ultimately preservation
of the rule of law.”

Belgore is undergoing a separate investigation by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over his alleged roles in
the judgment against Nigeria.

The anti-graft commission is looking into alleged criminal
conspiracy trailing the arbitral award.

Confirming receipt of the petition against Belgore, the Chairman
of CCB, Prof. Muhammed Isah, said: “We got a petition from HEDA but
in line with our procedures, we asked the chairman of the group to
come and adopt it.

“We have also directed HEDA to provide evidence against the
ex-CJN upon which we can take further action. We are awaiting
evidence from the petitioner.”

In the 30th September, 2019 petition, signed by Suraj
Olanrewaju, HEDA said it based its petition on a report on the
purported testimony for P&ID before an arbitration
tribunal.

The group said: “The report confirmed that the former Chief
Justice of Nigeria between 2006 and 2008, Justice Alfa Belgore(rtd)
is still a member of the National Council of State and Chairman of
the Nigerian National Honours Award Committee.

“He was allegedly reported to have testified as an expert
witness before an arbitration tribunal in the UK’s Business &
Property Courts, for an Irish Firm, P&ID.”

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The Honourable Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi has
assured youths, of Government commitment to quality education and
security which will engender a peaceful environment particularly at
the Colleges of Education. He made this statement while receiving
the Executive members of the National Association of Nigerian
Colleges of Education in his office on Monday, 7/10/19.

The Minister commended the zeal to learn and the peace in
colleges of Education, due to the able leadership of the President.
He said teacher education is significant because teachers produce
all class of professions in the country.

While promising to honour their invitation on the forth coming
seminar, he assured them he is still part of the Association even
though he is called to serve as a Minister of the Federal
Republic.

Speaking earlier, Comrade Mammud Abubakar, President of the
Association along with his team congratulated the Honourable
Minister of Police Affairs on his appointment.  He said the
Association is happy that the Hon. Minister is at a vantage
position in government to help students of Colleges of Education
particularly in the area of security since he was once their Board
Chairman.

While corroborating the fact that the Nigeria Colleges of
Education is the most progressive of all institutions in the
country, he informed the Minister that there are 157 Colleges of
Education nationwide mainly in rural areas which require security
going by the current security challenges in the country.

He concluded by wishing the inviting the Hon. Minister to speak
at a seminar later in the year
Odutayo Oluseyi

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