Come home and defends yourself if you're not a criminal - Nigerian youth tells Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

Obanikoro 

Various umbrella youth groups in the country have asked former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, to return to the country to face charges on the  diversion of  N4.745 billion arms cash leveled against him by  the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

EFCC investigators on  Tuesday discovered that a firm, Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, allegedly owned by Obanikoro and his sons, was used to launder the said sum.

Alarmed by the volume of  corrupt practices being  exposed by the anti-graft agency since the Buhari administration assumed office, the National President of Yoruba Youth Council (YYC), Comrade Eric Oluwole, said it is inappropriate for the minister not to come to the country to defend the allegations against him.

“Obanikoro, as a former minister, should come back to  the country and respond to the charges by the EFCC.

“It is not appropriate for him to stay overseas and be talking. If he believes that the allegations are false, he should come and clear himself. He can go back to wherever he likes after responding to the allegations.

“It is totally unacceptable for him to stay abroad and be responding to allegations leveled against him in the country where he served as a minister.

“We the youths of this country are watching what is happening and are totally in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption. In a telephone interview with our correspondent, the President of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, who doubles as the Chairman of  Coalition of Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders, Comrade ShetimaYerima said: “Obanikoro should be prosecuted. They should arrest and prosecute him because he is not covered by immunity.

“He is just an ordinary Nigerian like everyone of us, so they should investigate him and if found guilty, they should prosecute him.  Nobody is above the law.”

The President of the youth wing of the pan Igbo socio- political group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mazi  Okechukwu  Isiguzoro said: “Whoever has committed an offence should face the consequences. If Obanikoro is suspected to have his hand in the diversion of the public funds, he should be investigated.

“While we solidly support President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption fight, we would request that due process is followed in investigating anybody accused of corruption by the anti graft agency.”