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By Godwin Etakibuebu
Last week, I remarked thus: Now that we have the authentication from ABU that a “Daniel Jonah Melaye” graduated from it and the Senator we are listening to at the Senate is “Dino Melaye”, someone somewhere needs to explain to Nigerians if the “Daniel Jonah Melaye of ABU is the same “Dino Melaye” at the Senate unless there are court records of change of names . . . the argument about the difference between these two entities . . . shall remain a naughty obstacle to vindication’s dance by this two-in-one man.
Two of my closest critics emailed me over the week with information on the discussion, calling my attention to the fact that Senator Dino Melaye really submitted courts documents, authenticating the change of names. While Engineer Ishaku Datong said “but the man presented duly submitted court change of name” very briefly, the erudite Dr Uwem Akangson was more elaborative in giving the details of the time, place and reasons for the change of names by Dino Melaye. He even said “both Dino and Daniel are his names and not that Dino replaced Daniel”.
These two gentlemen’s contribution have actually escalated the topic into the arena that need “further evaluation and possibly, interpretation of the judiciary” on the similarity and difference of a Daniel Jonah Melaye and Dino Melaye. This is more so against the background of the court documents said to have been presented on this matter earlier. This will be a prudent step towards honourable clarification of the argument on ground, if this challenge is to be juxtaposed against the case of “Evan or Evans Enwerem”, sited as precedence on this page last week.
While we wait for those that would move the matter further for judicial interpretation, let us look at the second part of the allegation reported by the Sahara reporters [SR] against this same Senator. SR alleged that Dino Melaye obtained only three credits in his West Africa Examination Council result. There is need for looking into and verifying this allegation urgently because it is a rule [which is legal] that admission’s eligibility into all Nigerian universities is anchored on presentation of five credits and not three, from the candidate. Unless through a fraudulent route, a three-credit holder can never be admitted into Nigerian university to read whatever subject, geography inclusive – this is an incontrovertible fact.
It is therefore for the integrity of the Nigerian education system and double honour for our distinguished Senator Melaye for this fact [of three credits] to be authenticated. And until the exercise of authentication is successfully completed to his justification, the Senator should be asked to curtail his dancing steps of triumph. Somebody should advise him to stop embarrassing the integrity of the Nigerian Universities system by parading himself in academic gown of doctorate degree holder. He must be told that the graduating gowns of first and second degree holders are hired from and returned to the universities, immediately after the graduation ceremonies. The Senator needs to know also that the doctoral candidate’s gown he adored himself with, in the market place of the National Assembly a few days ago while celebrating the confirmation that he was a graduate of ABU , is a permanent property of a Ph.D holder and not that of a Third Class First Degree holder in Geography.
Let us now talk briefly on the second controversy the SR stirred up in its report, to the extent that a Range Rover SUV imported by Senator Bukola Saraki; the Senate President, was impounded by the Nigerian Customs Services [NCS] as the vehicle was being taken to the Senator in Abuja. According to the SR, the seizure was due to short-payment of import duty when the vehicle was processed through Customs Clearance at the “port of entry”, in addition to the finding, according to the SR, that the documents presented to the NCS by the importer, “for evaluating the actual import duty cost on the said vehicle, were forged”.
The ado that followed this report could easily be understandable. Senator Bukola Saraki is the President of the Senate – by virtue of his office; he occupies number three position in Nigeria [President, Vice-President and Senate President]. How could such high ranking officer of the Republic descend that low into deliberately invading payment of Customs’ import duty in addition to procurement of forged document for the purpose of sustaining the first offence, albeit duty payment invasion? It was more about the office than the person.
This was referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges [the same committee investigating Dino Melaye’ graduation palaver] for investigation, by the Senate. The result of the investigation was announced along that of Dino Melaye to wit: Senator Bukola Saraki was not guilty as he had no direct dealing with any importation of the said car. Against my little knowledge of maritime operations, which is inclusive of imports and exports, the Committee’s verdict in exonerating the senate president from the alleged crime is sacrosanct.
However, while Senator Saraki can be discharged and acquitted in the court of legality, which has been done anyway, will it be in the interest of justice and sanitising Nigeria against corruption, to extend the same generosity to the administrative unit of the Senate Chamber where the alleged “forged documents for processing the release of the vehicle from the port to the importer [whoever the importer is] originated from?” Let us not forget in hurry that the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges did not review the “issue of forged documents” used by the importer for under-declaring the year of manufacture of this car in question, as alleged by the Sahara reporters, in its deliberation.
We shall come to this next week and until all facts of this allegation are made known every dance-step of celebration shall remain absurd.
Godwin Etakibuebu, a veteran journalist wrote from Lagos.