- A civil society group has cautioned the federal government against the media trial of the Tumsah brothers for non-declaration of their assets
- According to the group, such move is against the fundamental human right of the two brothers
- It added that it is unfair to begin and conclude the trial of the Tumsah brothers in the media.
A group has called for an end to the media trial of a director of finance and account at the federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Tumsah Ibrahim, and his brother Tijani Tumsah, the vice chairman of the Presidential Intervention on North East, over alleged non-disclosure of their assets.
The group, Initiative for Integrity and Good Leadership (IIGL), cautioned the federal government against the media trial of the duo.
IIGL said the Tumsah brothers have been facing trial in the media following a temporary order of forfeiture by a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo over the non-declaration of 86 luxury vehicles, four houses and a quarry plant in Abuja, belonging to Tijjani Tumsah.
The group said the continued media trial of the brothers is no doubt against the fundamental human right of these two brothers. In a statement issued by the president of IIGL, Muhammed Aliyu, the group said it is unfair to begin and conclude the trial of the Tumsah brothers in the media.
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Aliyu said: "While we as an organization uphold transparency, justice and rule of law, and always want justice to take it course, we found it out of the way how the Tumsahs have been criminalized in the media before any pronouncement by a competent court of law."
He noted that besides the illegality of the order, the basis of which the media trial has persisted, the 86 vehicles belong to Tijani who has been into auto business since the 80s.
Aliyu also insisted that the special presidential investigative panel on the recovery of public property led by Okoi Obono-Obla lacks the power and jurisdiction to apply to a court to obtain interim order for forfeiture of the property pending investigation. He also said the panel lacked the prosecutorial powers to go ahead with the "purported investigation."
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"And also taking to two courts for none declaration of assets in two different courts noting that this is against legal practices and provisions. While we call for a fair hearing for these gentlemen in the appropriate court of law, we wish to caution against publications and other forms of media trial that are capable of painting them in bad light when the court is yet to decide," Aliyu added.
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NAIJ.com earlier reported that the inspector general of police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the State Security Services have asked a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to allow them search the residence of the Rivers state governor.
The three agencies also prayed the court to reject an application from Nyesom Wike to prevent them from going ahead with the search.
The agencies alleged that the governor compromised some electoral officials during the re-run elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
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Source: Naija.ng