My Persecution Is All About 2019 Election, Says Lamido

Jerrywright Ukwu

Former governor of Jigawa state, Sule Lamido, has spoken out for the first time since his detention at the Kano Central Prison by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Lamido who is in the prison with two of his sons; Aminu and Mustapha, over alleged money laundering charges claims that his case with the anti-corruption body was politically motivated.  

The former governor who spoke to Vanguard through his media aide, Umar Kyari, said he is being persecuted by those who are threatened by his political profile because they are worried that they won’t actualise their presidential ambition with him around the political terrain.

 

He drew the attention of Nigerians and the international community to the attempt being made by his political detractors to intimidate him with the EFCC.

 

According to him, there have been plans in the pipeline since to put him away in prison for a long time so that his political enemies can have their way.

 

He further revealed that he is determined to prove his innocence in the court of law to show Nigerians that he is just a victim of political witch-hunting.

 

His spokesman said,“This current effort to frame and denigrate the former governor of Jigawa State with a view to rubbishing his high performance in office will come to naught at the end of the day.  

“Lamido remains nothing but a scion of accountability and integrity who has always fought on the side of the people, particularly the downtrodden and the vulnerable, since he came into the national political scene.

 

“He remains unshaken over the trumped-up charges slammed on him by the EFCC knowing that he has not committed any offense to warrant being thrown into the prison over a bailable offense.

 

“But the refusal by his traducers to grant him and his sons bail when others charged same day and time for even more grievous offences were admitted to bail speaks volume of the intention and mindset of those who are after him.

 

“Nonetheless, Sule Lamido strongly believes that, after being imprisoned several times all in a bid to pave the way for sustained democracy in Nigeria, the current effort by the EFCC and others to humiliate him and his family over the so-called money laundering charges will not break his resolve to continue to fight on the side of the people.

 

“It is Lamido’s strong belief that having not committed any offense against the state to warrant being sent to prison, he and his two sons will be freed and vindicated against the wicked plot of their adversaries”.  

Meanwhile, a former military administrator of Kaduna state, Abubakar Umar, has condemned a federal high court decision to remand Lamido and his sons in prison for nearly three months.

Source: naij.com