THE Nigerian Senate has been advised not confirm Rufus Akeju as Oyo State resident electoral commissioner, REC. The Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice, CHRSJ, which cried out against Akeju urged the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly under the leadership of Bukola Saraki, president of the Senate, not to re-confirm the name of the immediate past Oyo State REC, over bribery allegation scandal during the 2015 general elections.

The group claimed that Akeju as a former REC, was still under investigation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly receiving N802million out of N23billion bribe disbursed to electoral officials by Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former minister of Petroleum Resources, during the 2015 general elections, and that Akeju had returned more than N100million of his share, back to the cover of the anti-graft agency.

It alleged that Akeju had committed many electoral and immoral atrocities, while serving as a REC in both Osun and Oyo states respectively. The group, therefore, urged the leadership of the Senate to request from the EFCC to supply it the detail reports of the anti-graft investigation on the bribery allegation rocking the general elections in Oyo State under Akeju’s watch.

According to the statement signed by Alimi Sulaiman Adeniyi, CHRSJ’s executive chairman, a copy, which was made available to newsmen on Wednesday, Akeju does not fit to hold any position of authority in the land again.

Adenji advised the Senate to reject Akeju’s nomination by requesting for another credible person to represent the Lagos State in the Commission, promising that the right group would soon forward a letter to the Senate leadership, detailing the many atrocities committed by him during his previous tenures.

Akeju, according to the group, lacked the requisite integrity, temperament and civility to serve again in the Commission, saying his rejection would save the Commission from impeding embarrassment and odium.

The group’s letter said in part:  “Anybody that would serve in the electoral umpire should live above board, not controversial personality like Ambassador Akeju. How come a person like Akeju who is still under investigation of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for N802 million electoral bribery scandal, would still be forwarded for re-appointment under the Change mantra, President Muhammadu Buhari and as well request the Senate to confirm such person. If Akeju re-confirmed, it would not augur well for the commission as the country is preparing to have free, fair, credible and generally acceptable elections in 2019.”

 “It is incumbent on us as an organisation that is committed to the promotion of peace, good governance, sanctity of truth, credible elections and democratic ethos to let the Senate know that Ambassador Rufus Akeju is not fit and proper person to be reconsidered for such a privilege appointment. “

—  Mar 29, 2017 @ 18:55 GMT

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