The Deputy National Leader of the Northern Elders Forum, Dr. Paul Unongo has called for the immediate probe of former president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
A call has gone out to the Buhari-led government to probe the former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan over the $2.1 arms deal. The call was made by the Deputy National Leader of the Northern Elders Forum, Dr. Paul Unongo.
Unongo, a former Steel minister in the Second Republic maintained that the former President should be jailed if found to have corruptly enriched himself in the $2.1bn arms deal and refuses to refund his share of the loot.
Punch reports that Unong made the statement in a telephone interview. He said: “There are three points to make on the arms probe. The first is that Jonathan deserves a special consideration for his contribution to democratic culture in Nigeria and for enabling us to avert a national crisis by conceding defeat during the general elections. He also mobilised support for the present government. Jonathan was great in defeat. He is a hero for doing this.
“Secondly, if the anti-graft agency can prove beyond reasonable doubt that he diverted public funds and if Jonathan agrees to return the stolen funds, he should not be humiliated but he should be given due consideration.
“Thirdly, if it is proved by a transparent process that he stole the country’s money and he refuses to return it, then the law should take its course, whether he is a former President or not. He should be prosecuted and jailed. This is important in order to serve as a deterrent to others.
"I was a minister in this country and that did not stop me from speaking the truth to the President. Jonathan’s advisers who are claiming they acted under instructions to justify their alleged theft are lying.
“Jonathan paid them to advise him so they are liable for their actions. If you advised Jonathan rightly and he said no, you should have resigned your appointment,” he stressed.
“I think President Buhari is trying to be careful in not summoning Jonathan so far. I don’t believe there was an agreement President Buhari had not to probe Jonathan as being reported.”