The senior special assistant to
the president on public affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, has said that the federal
government was not disposed to handing over former Bayelsa State Governor,
Diepreye Alamieyeseigha to the United Kingdom for trial. Okupe spoke in an
exclusive interview with Premium Times published yesterday.
the president on public affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, has said that the federal
government was not disposed to handing over former Bayelsa State Governor,
Diepreye Alamieyeseigha to the United Kingdom for trial. Okupe spoke in an
exclusive interview with Premium Times published yesterday.
The presidential aide also described the spokesperson of the
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Alhaji Lai Mohammed, as a ‘liar’ with no vision
and very little understanding of what the role of the opposition is supposed to
be in a democracy.
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Alhaji Lai Mohammed, as a ‘liar’ with no vision
and very little understanding of what the role of the opposition is supposed to
be in a democracy.
Okupe, who denied knowledge of any written request to the
federal government asking for Alamieyeseigha to be extradited to Britain for
trial for which the federal government has allegedly refused, said “even if the
federal government refuses, I don’t see any big issue in that.
federal government asking for Alamieyeseigha to be extradited to Britain for
trial for which the federal government has allegedly refused, said “even if the
federal government refuses, I don’t see any big issue in that.
This happens all over the world; why should Nigeria release a
Nigerian citizen, who committed an offence in Nigeria for which he has been
punished, to Britain? What is the interest of Britain? The offence was not
committed in the U.K.; it was committed against the people of this country for
which our laws have punished the man and he has served his term.
Nigerian citizen, who committed an offence in Nigeria for which he has been
punished, to Britain? What is the interest of Britain? The offence was not
committed in the U.K.; it was committed against the people of this country for
which our laws have punished the man and he has served his term.
“Countries such as Britain go out of their way to ensure that
their citizens who commit crimes in other lands are not punished. They will use
every diplomatic effort to make sure that they are brought to Britain to serve
their punishment. Why should we now submit our own person, it does not make
sense to me. But I am not aware if they made any demand to anybody, but if they
have done so and Nigeria refuses, I don’t see any problem with that,” Okupe
declared.
their citizens who commit crimes in other lands are not punished. They will use
every diplomatic effort to make sure that they are brought to Britain to serve
their punishment. Why should we now submit our own person, it does not make
sense to me. But I am not aware if they made any demand to anybody, but if they
have done so and Nigeria refuses, I don’t see any problem with that,” Okupe
declared.
Okupe was reported to have earlier said that some of the factors
President Goodluck Jonathan considered in granting the controversial pardon to
his ex-boss and kinsman, is the role he (Alamieyeseigha) is playing to
stabilise the country’s economy especially with regards to curbing oil theft in
the Niger Delta region, a situation, Okupe said, could have been worse but for
the intervention of various people including Alamieyeseigha.
President Goodluck Jonathan considered in granting the controversial pardon to
his ex-boss and kinsman, is the role he (Alamieyeseigha) is playing to
stabilise the country’s economy especially with regards to curbing oil theft in
the Niger Delta region, a situation, Okupe said, could have been worse but for
the intervention of various people including Alamieyeseigha.
Source: Leadership
