Travel-ban order, not political witch-hunt – Lai Mohammed

The Federal Government clarified on Wednesday in London that the
implementation of Executive Order 6 signed by President Muhammadu
Buhari has nothing to do with 2019 general elections.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed
made the clarification at the Chatham House, a UK-based Royal
Institute of International Affairs chaired by Dr Alex Vines
(OMR).

The global body has the objectives to help build a sustainably
secure, prosperous and just world, through informed debate,
independent analysis, new policy ideas, and outreach to
audiences.

Mohammed, who made a presentation on the topic: “Nigeria’s
National Unity: Towards Participation and Shared Values”, stressed
that the Order was to strengthen the anti-corruption fight of the
administration and not to witch-hunt any political opponents.

He said that the Order was being misconstrued by naysayers and
those who were beneficiaries of the past corruption laden
regimes.

“The facts are very simple. Sometimes in July, the President, in
the exercise of his constitutional powers signed the Executive
Order 6 to strengthen the anti-corruption fight.

“In that order, the various corruption cases being investigated
were listed and appendix.

“As soon as the Order was proclaimed, some people went to court
to challenge it.

“Because of the pending case, the government suspended its
implementation.

“But last week, the court ruled in favour of government and the
government said that it is time to start its implementation,” he
said.

The minister said that the Order was not about travel ban on
identified 50 Nigerians and political oppositions as reported.

“The government believed that you cannot fight corruption, if
you allow the perpetrators of corruption to use the proceeds to
compromise investigationor and its outcome.

“What the Order says is that if someone is alleged to have used
the proceed of corruption to buy a house, that person will not be
allowed to dispose of the property, travel during the time if trial
or do anything that will destroy the outcome o the case,” he
said.

The minister noted that many of the listed corruption cases in
the Order were instituted by previous administrations and inherited
by the present government.

He said that some of the cases dated back to between 2006 to
2015, when 55 Nigerians allegedly embezzles N1.3 trillion.

Mohammed said that the topic for his presentation was apt,
coming at a time the country was struggling to forge a national
consensus, accept its diverse ethnic groups as the source of its
national power and cohesion

He said that national unity was imperative because without a
united country, all its component parts would be working at cross
purposes and conflicting signals that would constantly threaten the
foundation and the existence of the country.

The minister used the forum to explain the mandate of his
ministry, the achievements and challenges.