Ndume Warns FG Against Secret Trial of 400 BDC Operators

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume,
has canvassed an open trial of 400 Bureau De Change (BDC) accused
of funding Boko Haram insurgency.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and
Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, had said the federal government had
arrested some BDC operators facilitating the transfer of money to
Boko Haram terrorists to cause mayhem in the North-east.

“Bureau de change operators are facilitating money to
terrorists. We have already worked with the UAE. Convictions have
been achieved of Nigerians who are transferring money to Boko Haram
terrorists and this also happens domestically. And I tell you that
by the time we finish this investigation, the shocking details will
surprise many Nigerians,” Shehu had said.

Ndume, who spoke yesterday in reaction to the reported arrest of
the BDC operators, said the government must come out clean on this
issue by making public the identities of those arrested while
ensuring that the prosecution of the suspected Boko Haram funders
are done in an open court.

“The presidency said recently that Nigerians would be shocked if
it revealed the identities of those who are sponsoring the Boko
Haram insurgents. Can you imagine that 400 bureau de change
operators are the people funding Boko Haram? When the BDC operators
are arrested now, what will the government do with them?

“The presidency is already saying their case is confidential.
What is confidential about it? The presidency should expose the
identities of all the BDC operators so far arrested and carry out
their trial in public. If any of them is innocent, he should be
allowed to go while those found guilty must be made to face the
music,” he stated.

Ndume cited his own trial when he was accused of funding Boko
Haram insurgents, which lasted for six years in a regular
court.

He said: “When I was wrongly accused, I was tried publicly and I
was vindicated. The trial lasted for six years in an open court. If
there is any criminal activity linked to anybody, no matter how
highly placed, let the evidence be placed before the public; there
should be no secret trial.”

He also wondered what has happened to the suspects arrested in
connection with killings across the country, including the 11
soldiers killed in Benue State, and urged government to ensure
their timely trial.

“Nowadays, criminals are arrested and paraded without further
action. Nobody knows what happens to the people who killed 11
soldiers in Benue State recently. “What happened to those who
beheaded policemen in Cross River State?

“If everyone is doing what he is supposed to do as defined by
our constitution and laws, we would not have these problems.
Citizens should expose suspicious movements,” he added.

On travel advisory by the United States government to its
citizens planning to travel to Nigeria, Ndume said it was within
the US purview to issue security advice to its citizens, adding
that Nigeria is currently facing serious security challenges.

He, therefore, called on the federal government to henceforth
take seriously the issue of the welfare of the public as well as
providing adequate security in the country.

“America has the right to advise its citizens on the issue of
security just the same way I won’t advise anybody to travel anyhow
within Nigeria. There is no big deal about the American travel
advisory to its citizens wishing to come to Nigeria. The truth of
the matter is that we are facing security challenges that are more
intense than the situation before now, especially with the new
dimensions in addition to the existing ones. It is a matter of
concern.

“I am of the view that security and welfare of the citizens
should remain paramount. We need more personnel in the military and
security forces with modern equipment to prosecute the war. All
hands must be on deck. Citizens must provide useful information
while the security agents should be adequately empowered with
modern weapons to enable them to act fast whenever information is
provided,” he said.

Ndume also expressed concern about the nation’s security.

“I am scared and worried because I don’t have anywhere to run
to. Right now I don’t have a visa to any country.

“Nigeria is the only country that I have; that is why I am so
passionate about my country. I believe so much in this country;
that is why I don’t travel out for my holidays. I spend all my
holidays travelling from one state to another with members of my
family. That is why the current security situation is of great
concern to me,” he stated.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume,
has canvassed an open trial of 400 Bureau De Change (BDC) accused
of funding Boko Haram insurgency.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and
Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, had said the federal government had
arrested some BDC operators facilitating the transfer of money to
Boko Haram terrorists to cause mayhem in the North-east.

“Bureau de change operators are facilitating money to
terrorists. We have already worked with the UAE. Convictions have
been achieved of Nigerians who are transferring money to Boko Haram
terrorists and this also happens domestically. And I tell you that
by the time we finish this investigation, the shocking details will
surprise many Nigerians,” Shehu had said.

Ndume, who spoke yesterday in reaction to the reported arrest of
the BDC operators, said the government must come out clean on this
issue by making public the identities of those arrested while
ensuring that the prosecution of the suspected Boko Haram funders
are done in an open court.

“The presidency said recently that Nigerians would be shocked if
it revealed the identities of those who are sponsoring the Boko
Haram insurgents. Can you imagine that 400 bureau de change
operators are the people funding Boko Haram? When the BDC operators
are arrested now, what will the government do with them?

“The presidency is already saying their case is confidential.
What is confidential about it? The presidency should expose the
identities of all the BDC operators so far arrested and carry out
their trial in public. If any of them is innocent, he should be
allowed to go while those found guilty must be made to face the
music,” he stated.

Ndume cited his own trial when he was accused of funding Boko
Haram insurgents, which lasted for six years in a regular
court.

He said: “When I was wrongly accused, I was tried publicly and I
was vindicated. The trial lasted for six years in an open court. If
there is any criminal activity linked to anybody, no matter how
highly placed, let the evidence be placed before the public; there
should be no secret trial.”

He also wondered what has happened to the suspects arrested in
connection with killings across the country, including the 11
soldiers killed in Benue State, and urged government to ensure
their timely trial.

“Nowadays, criminals are arrested and paraded without further
action. Nobody knows what happens to the people who killed 11
soldiers in Benue State recently. “What happened to those who
beheaded policemen in Cross River State?

“If everyone is doing what he is supposed to do as defined by
our constitution and laws, we would not have these problems.
Citizens should expose suspicious movements,” he added.

On travel advisory by the United States government to its
citizens planning to travel to Nigeria, Ndume said it was within
the US purview to issue security advice to its citizens, adding
that Nigeria is currently facing serious security challenges.

He, therefore, called on the federal government to henceforth
take seriously the issue of the welfare of the public as well as
providing adequate security in the country.

“America has the right to advise its citizens on the issue of
security just the same way I won’t advise anybody to travel anyhow
within Nigeria. There is no big deal about the American travel
advisory to its citizens wishing to come to Nigeria. The truth of
the matter is that we are facing security challenges that are more
intense than the situation before now, especially with the new
dimensions in addition to the existing ones. It is a matter of
concern.

“I am of the view that security and welfare of the citizens
should remain paramount. We need more personnel in the military and
security forces with modern equipment to prosecute the war. All
hands must be on deck. Citizens must provide useful information
while the security agents should be adequately empowered with
modern weapons to enable them to act fast whenever information is
provided,” he said.

Ndume also expressed concern about the nation’s security.

“I am scared and worried because I don’t have anywhere to run
to. Right now I don’t have a visa to any country.

“Nigeria is the only country that I have; that is why I am so
passionate about my country. I believe so much in this country;
that is why I don’t travel out for my holidays. I spend all my
holidays travelling from one state to another with members of my
family. That is why the current security situation is of great
concern to me,” he stated.