$2.1b arms deal:Why Jonathan's Punishment Should Be Mild-Paul Unongo.

File photo of former president Goodluck Jonathan

Paul Unongo, the deputy national leader of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), has called on the federal government to probe former president Goodluck Jonathan over $2.1bn arms deal scandal.

According to Unongo, the ex-president should be jailed if found to have enriched himself in the $2.1bn arms deal and refuses to refund his share of the stolen funds.

The NEF deputy leader, who was power and steel minister in the Second Republic, expressed his opinion in a telephone interview with The Punch on Monday, January 25.
Unongo listed two facts that should be taken into consideration and make Jonathan’s punishments mild, if he was found guilty.

“There are three points to make on the arms probe. The first is that Jonathan deserves a special consideration for his contribution to democratic culture in Nigeria and for enabling us to avert a national crisis by conceding defeat during the general elections. He also mobilised support for the present government. Jonathan was great in defeat. He is a hero for doing this.

“Secondly, if the anti-graft agency can prove beyond reasonable doubt that he diverted public funds and if Jonathan agrees to return the stolen funds, he should not be humiliated but he should be given due consideration.


“Thirdly, if it is proved by a transparent process that he stole the country’s money and he refuses to return it, then the law should take its course, whether he is a former president or not. He should be prosecuted and jailed. This is important in order to serve as a deterrent to others,” he said.

Speaking about the ex-president’s advisers who have been justifying their roles in the alleged diversion of the arms funds, Unondo stressed that they should be called to account for their actions.  He noted that Jonathan’s aides had the opportunity to advise the president against any form of illegality but failed to do so.

“I was a minister in this country and that did not stop me from speaking the truth to the president. Jonathan’s advisers who are claiming they acted under instructions to justify their alleged theft are lying.
“Jonathan paid them to advise him so they are liable for their actions. If you advised Jonathan rightly and he said no, you should have resigned your appointment,” he said.

According to the ex-minister, the government has not ordered the arrest of Jonathan because it “was trying to be careful and abide by the dictates of the law in order not to be seen as dictatorial”.
 
“I think President Buhari is trying to be careful in not summoning Jonathan so far. I don’t believe there was an agreement President Buhari had not to probe Jonathan as being reported,” he added.
Meanwhile, Senator Joseph Waku, a former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, also advised President Buhari to probe Jonathan in the alleged diversion of money meant for arms procurement.

He noted that it is unfair that for the former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, to be detained while ex-president is left a free man.