Musa Simon Reef
21 November 2008
President Umaru Yar'adua has been called upon by youths from Kogi State to ensure that the former Minister of State of Health Arc Gabriel Aduku is not rearraigned in court over the alleged N300 million fraud in the ministry.
In a communiqué signed by the national president of the Kogi Youth Vanguard, Mr. Olusola Daniel Ademola, the forum called on the President to ensure that Aduku remains free after his discharge by the FCT High Court presided over by Justice Salisu Garba.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on October 21urged the court to drop all charges against the former minister for want of evidence. But the EFCC plans re-arraign Aduku for similar offences.
According to youth group, "We are therefore constrained to cry aloud to you, Mr. President, that Arc. Aduku is not only being prosecuted for an offence he did not commit, but he is being persecuted for political reasons by group of politicians who do not want him return to your cabinet."
The group said EFCC was yet to have any fresh evidence to warrant the re-arraignment of the former minister, stressing that "for him to be tried over the same charge that he was discharged from for want of evidence call for questioning and for sure amounts to double jeopardy."
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