By; AMOS TAUNA, Kaduna
The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), has explained that there was no place where Liman Isah Kantigi was ever sued or joined in suits, rather it was some companies that stood trials.
Mock Samuel Kure, Director General, Media and Publicity, Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), while addressing newsmen in Kaduna said, “It is worthy to note that in all the legal rigmarole, there was no such place where Liman Isah Kantigi was ever sued or joined in suits, rather it was some companies that stood trials.
“Hon. Isa Kantingi has not been subjected to any criminal trial or convicted by a competent court of law. The sweeping statement by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu J of the Federal High Court was not a conviction known to law and subject to appeal at the Supreme Court, owing to the fact that the statement were made without affording Hon. Kantingi a right to fair hearing.
“It is important for the world to note that our independent investigation into these matters have revealed the true state of affairs, that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) approached the Federal High Court, Sitting in Abuja Before Honorable Justice Dimgba J in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/357/2017- between The Chairman of Economic & Financial Crimes Commission v Sadiq Air Travel and Katah Properties Limited on allegations of corruption by Alhaji Isa Liman Katingi whilst serving as an official in Niger State seeeking to forfeit monies standing in credit of two entities Sadiq Air Travel and Katah Properties Limited, allegedly siphoned by Alhaji Liman Isa Kantingi.”
He further explained that the Niger State Government through its Attorney General joined in the proceedings before the Federal Court and sought for the destitute to them upon establishment of the guilt of Alhaji Isa Liman Kantingi.
Mock Kure stated that as a result, both the EFCC and the Niger State Government attempted in futility to link Hon Liman Isah Kantigi to the monies in the said account without any iota of prove, adding that there was no evidence of any missing funds from Niger State relating to the allegations involved.
The Director General stated that the court conclusively held that it does not believe that the honourable Attorney General of Niger State has discharged the evidential burden placed on it by law in this proceedings, as to entitle to an order that the funds in the accounts of Katah Property and Investment LTD and Sadiq Air Travel Agency LTD, should be permanently forfeited to the Niger State Government. I hereby refused and dismiss the claim made by the honourable Attorney General of Niger State”
Dissatisfied with the Judgment of the Lower Court, he explained that the Niger State Government decided to approach the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, where their Honourable Justices unanimously dismissed the Appeal and awarded a fine of N200,000 in favour of the Three respondents in a Judgement dated 18th Day of March, 2022 with Appeal Number: CA/A/453/2018.
He stated that those that are in the race to Niger State Government with Alhaji Liman Katingi should kindly avail themselves on the day of their party primaries and test their popularity among the delegates, rather than, trying to use back door approach to smear the reputation of selfless and God fearing man whose only crime is presenting himself to serve his people.
Mock Kure explained that their president, Comrade Isah Abubakar addressed a press conference urging the EFCC to arrest Hon Isa Liman Kantigi, over what he described as indictment by both High and Appeal Courts.
He said, “It is unfortunate that a person of Isah Abubakar’s standing would allow himself to be dragged into the murky water of Niger Politics, and be misled to call for the arrest of a law abiding citizens who has contributed immensely to the development of his state and Northern Nigeria.
“To this end, the National Executive of the council met and resolved that the President, Dr Isah Abubakar be suspended forthwith from the activities of the Council pending the conclusion of investigative Committee, The most Senior Executive has therefore been mandated to lead the Council, going forward.
“This organization is a non-partisan organization and his recent actions of deliberate witch-hunting without verifying the veracity of the facts portrays him to have betrayed the objectives of this August body.”
