Arewa Youths Want Abaribe Arrested, Condemns Ndume’s Detention

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has kicked against the order by a court to remand Senator Ali Ndume in Corrections Centre over the absence of former Pension boss, Abdulrasheed Maina.

Naija News reports that Senator Ndume, the lawmaker representing Borno South Senatorial District, was on Monday sent to prison a federal high court.

The order follows his inability to produce Maina, the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Task Team, whom he stood as surety for in his corruption and money laundering trial.

The high court, sitting in Abuja was presided over by Justice Okon Abang and ordered Senator Ndume to be remanded in Kuje correctional centre.

Justice Abang, however, gave three conditions upon which Ndume can regain his freedom. First is that he pays N500m bail bond into the Federation Account of the Federal Government and present evidence of such payment in court or the FG sells the property situated in Asokoro, Abuja which Ndume pledge as security for the bond and present evidence of sale and payment of the N500m realised into the Federation Account or he (Ndume) produces Maina, who is believed to have now jumped bail, in court.

Reacting in a statement signed by its National President, Alh. Yerima Shettima, the Arewa forum said the same treatment was not meted out to Senator Eyinaya Abaribe when IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu jumped bail.

While describing Ndume’s treatment as unfair, the group urged President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and to put an end to what they called embarrassing selectivity against one of the North’s exceptionally-vocal, fearless and pro-masses members of the National Assembly.

Arewa youths noted that in as much as they were not denying whether Abdurrashid Maina committed offence or not, they believe it amounts to setting a bad example if Senator Abaribe – who stood surety for alleged terrorist, Nnamdi Kanu is still walking the streets as a free man.

The group stated that in the interest of equity, fairness and balance, Senator Abaribe should be immediately arrested and remanded in prison too until IPOB’s Kanu turns himself in.

The forum observed that both Ndume and Abaribe are Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and therefore Abaribe cannot be said to be higher in status than Ndume.

Arewa youths said that Ndume’s case is such that Maina is still a suspect being tried by the law and no sentence has yet been handed down by any court of competent jurisdiction, while such cannot be said of Nnamdi Kanu and his treason case.