by Chi Ibe

Following the publication, last month, of a report on the probe of the fuel subsidy regime by a House of Representative Committee, President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to launch a criminal investigate based on the findings in the document and prosecute those found culpable of wrongdoing.

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke assured Nigerians that there would neither be sacred cows nor would the Federal Government persecute anybody who has not been found culpable in the fuel subsidy fraud, ThisDay news reports.

Adoke said the report, which revealed that N1.7 trillion, was frittered away by dubious importers of fuel would help the EFCC in its investigations and ensured that those who ran foul of the law of the land would be brought to book.

“Very true. I have just gotten the report and I am acting on it immediately. I am forwarding it to the EFCC. However, we don’t want situations where we are stampeded to initiate prosecution and we are unable to prosecute due to lack of, or paucity of evidence,” Adoke said.

When the House report was published last month, it raised a storm with civil society groups calling for prosecution of those identified in the report as perpetrators of the fuel subsidy fraud. Opposition politicians also called for the sacking of the Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke and speculated that President Jonathan would not order the prosecution of those indicted by the report.

Civil society groups finally get their wishes granted. What remains to be seen is an actual conviction, a refund of (our) money, and a jail sentence being served. We have gone down this path of probes and prosection before.