A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Human rights activist, Mike Ozekhome, has called for Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Patanmi prosecution by virtue of section 174 of the 1999 Constitution.
Ozekhome called on civil society organisations to approach court to compel the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, to prosecute Isa Pantami, for terrorism indictments.
He expressed dismay over the exoneration of Pantami’s past radical comments supporting the activities of terrorist groups like the Taliban and Al-Qaeda by the Presidency.
He described the defence of presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu that Pantami had apologized and should be forgiven as “pedestrian argument”.
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In a statement obtained by Top Court News, tagged ‘Can Dr. Isa Pantami Be Prosecuted For Acts Of Terrorism?’, Ozekhome said though Pantami cannot be prosecuted under the Terrorism Act, because his alleged terrorist acts occurred between 2000 and 2006 prior to the enactment of the Terrorism Act in 2011 but the minister can be prosecuted under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act.
The Senior Advocate further noted that “Under section 5(2) of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, Pantami can be charged for terrorist activities, because terrorism includes “support” for; and “support” includes (in the words of the Act) “incitement to commit a terrorist act through the internet or any electronic means or through the use of printed materials or through the dissemination of terrorist information”.
“My humble call on Pantami is to resign his ministerial appointment and save this clueless government of further infamy, calumny, obloquy and odium.
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“Where he fails or refuses to do so (as I know he would), then President Buhari should sack him.
Where Buhari refuses (as I know he would), then, any and every Nigerian or NGO that feels sufficiently concerned and aggrieved can approach the courts and ask for an Order of Mandamus, to compel the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, to prosecute Pantami, by virtue of section 174 of the 1999 Constitution. Every Nigerian has the right (locus standi) to do this.”
