NATION

‘Why Amaechi is ineligible to contest presidential poll’

Rotimi Amaechi is ineligible to contest the 2023 presidential election, due to his indictment for fraud.Kayode Ajulo, a human rights lawyer, stated this in a statement he issued on Friday.

Ajulo states that Section 137 (1)(i) of the 1999 constitution prohibits Amaechi from running for office owing to the allegation of N96 billion fraud against him.

The lawyer argues that Amaechi’s “indictment and the subsequent White Paper  with recommended prosecution as well as the judgment of the supreme court touches on core objectives of the APC party to produce the next president for our great country Nigeria,”

“According to Section 137 (1)(i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended): Anyone that “has been indicted for embezzlement or fraud by a Judicial Commission of Inquiry or an Administrative Panel of Inquiry or a Tribunal set up under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act, or a Tribunals of Inquiry Law or any other law by Federal or State Government which indictment has been accepted by the Federal or State Government respectively”…… stands disqualified to be sworn in as president of the federal republic of Nigeria.”

“Therefore, though Hon. Rotimi Amaechi has not yet been tried by a law court in respect of the accused fraud and embezzlement, the provision of Section 137 (1) (i) of the 1999 Constitution has already disqualified him.

“The APC party will be taking the risk of handing over power to the next candidate with the highest votes if they put Hon. Rotimi Amaechi forward as their flag bearer and he wins.”

Ajulo cited the case of APC governorship candidate in Bayelsa David Lyon, whom the court removed on action of his deputy’s forged credentials.

“It is apposite that the APC party takes all necessary steps to ensure that due diligence is carried out on all the party’s presidential candidates. The future of our great nation Nigeria is in our hands to mould, mend and take to greater heights and it will be most regretful if this opportunity is lost on issues that are avoidable,” the lawyer warned

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