Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has denied giving commendation to the approach of former President Goodluck Jonathan, in the fight against corruption.
Falana said he never stated that the Jonathan administration fought corruption in a more civilised way than the present administration of President Muhammad Buhari.
He said the misinterpretation of his recent interview with Channels Television, was a ploy to link him with forces of corruption that were fighting the anti-corruption war of President Buhari.
The veteran lawyer released a statement to this effect on Wednesday;
“I challenge the reactionary forces that have twisted and manipulated my views to reproduce any statement made by me suggesting that ex-President Jonathan fought corruption in a civilised manner.”
“In a desperate move to discredit the anti corruption programme of the Muhammadu Buhari admistration some misguided fellows have attempted to link me with the forces of corruption that are fighting back in the country.
“I was alleged to have ‘suggested’ in an interview with Channels television, that (former) President Jonathan fought corruption in a more civilised manner than President Buhari. I never made such a stupid statement. Hence, the ‘suggestion’ ascribed to me is grossly misleading and downright dishonest.”
“In accusing the influential members of the National Peace Committee of gargantuan hypocrisy, I did say that their chairman, General Abbdulsami Abubakar, even probed the dead and recovered property and over $1bn from Abacha loot which are contained in the Forfeiture Decree No 45 of 1999.
“With respect to President Jonathan, I did say that his administration recovered $970m from the said Abacha loot and sacked three of his ministers. I never said that those actions were taken quietly as they were announced and celebrated in the media by the Jonathan administration.
“Consequently, I questioned the motive of the members of the National Peace Committee in calling for ‘soft landing’ for corrupt people. Convinced that the call was a demonstration of class solidarity I urged the Buhari administration not to be deterred in prosecuting the anti-corruption war.
“In fact, I did not hesitate in supporting President Buhari’s anti-corruption policy by citing section 15 of the Constitution, which has imposed a duty on the the Nigerian State to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power.”
