Professor Itse Sagay
Senior Advocate of Nigeria Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) has faulted former Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Alfa Belgore’s remark that the award of Nigeria’s highest nationwide honour to late Moshood Abiola was unlawful.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday offered the presumed winner of 1993 presidential election, MKO Abiola, with the title of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), 20 years after his demise in 1998.
But Belgore stated the nationwide honours can't be awarded posthumously, a lot much less the GCFR.
“It is not done. It is for people living. The only thing they could do is to name a place after him, but national honours award, no,” he had stated.
However, Sagay, the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) stated Buhari’s transfer has restored justice.
“Was there injustice done on June 12? Yes, to both Nigerians and to Abiola, a very great injustice which almost destroyed this country. Is it therefore good that this injustice should be removed and justice done? The answer is yes. Has what Buhari done, not restored justice to the situation and poured balm into the hearts of those who were hurt? The answer is yes,” he stated.
“So, why should we be looking for legal arguments to overturn justice that has been done? These are some of the things that I cannot understand about Nigerians.”
Sagay additional stated, “Some people are even saying the awards were conferred with a political motive. Again, I ask, what is achieved by the conferment of the awards, is it a positive or negative thing? Is the act something to be happy about? Is it something that resolves a major problem and brings relief to the country? The answer is yes.”