Kantigi: Running for governor or seeking immunity?

By Danlami Ndabagi

After eight years out of power in Niger State, many would have expected the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to do its homework very well, so as to have a good shot at the leadership of Nigeria’s “Power State” once again. Sadly, they chose to give the All Progressives Congress (APC) the rope with which to hang it, politically speaking.The PDP in Niger State certainly has enough credible and competent members to fly its flag in the 2023 governorship election, but it ended up giving the platform to Liman Kantigi, a man that should – in all honesty – focus on the numerous legal cases against him, some for which he had already been indicted by a competent court of law.There are so many cases against Kantigi to warrant revisiting here. As a Commissioner for Local Government under Babangida Aliyu (who is also having his day at the court), Kantigi is being weighed down by a bevy of allegations. Even as a staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was beset by scandals, including the allegation that he was using fake documents.In 2017, he was found to have used his office for selfish reasons. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission threatened to declare him wanted after – during the course of investigation – a further N2billion was traced to his United Bank for Africa, bringing to N6 billion funds traced to accounts held by the man now scheming to become governor of Niger State.Same year, the EFCC confiscated properties linked to Kantigi after intelligence indicted him for money laundering and fraudulent acquisition of assets. The former Chairman of Edati local government area of Niger state 2011 to 2013, who also answers Musa Mohammed, was convicted by the Federal High Court for misappropriating N158 million while serving as commissioner in Niger state. The judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja was delivered by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu on 21st June 2021 in suit no. FHC/ABJ/CR/100/2018.Not satisfied with the Federal High Court’s judgment, he challenged the ruling at the Court of Appeal through his counsel Mr Kanu Agabi (SAN). But it was dismissed for lack of merit in a unanimous decision by the learned justices [Justice Mohamed Danjuma, Justice Moore Aseimo A. Adumein and Justice Danlami Zama Senchi] sitting at the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal on 4th February, 2022 in appeal no: CA/A/CR/413/2021. The judges also declared the appeal by Kantigi as an abuse of court processes.According to the Court of Appeal, the EFCC led evidence to show that the Appellant was a signatory to the accounts in Guaranty Trust Bank Account No.0128615097 where the sum of over Two Billion Naira was deposited between 2011 and 2015 when one Alhaji Isah Liman Kantigi who is a Director of the Katah Property and Investment Limited held various positions in Niger State Government. Therefore, the Appellant was in a position to explain how come such sums of money was deposited in cash into the bank accounts.The problem with having Kantigi on the ballot come March 11, 2023 is that many will not consider the PDP as a party serious about reclaiming power. This is because its candidate may be in the race only for the immunity [from criminal prosecution, in particular] that being a governor will accord him. He is not in it for the good of the state. So since the PDP couldn’t respect its own platform to the extent of handing it over to a questionable fellow, the people of Niger State cannot afford to mortgage their future for four years, just to give someone some relief from prosecution.Although many believe Kantigi stands little chance in the Niger governorship race, it will be a disgrace to even have him on the ballot. Our state certainly deserves better. We must not allow ourselves to be taken for a ride. Our laws should be explicit enough to stop fugitives from finding refuge in public office. We owe it to humanity. Those who aspire to lead us must be above board, else the development we seek will continue to elude us. Just because Kantigi had his way in PDP does not mean we should tolerate him. This is beyond party-politics.The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) did well by investigating and prosecuting Kantigi to a point. But it is like the anti-graft agency has lost interest [some will say compromise, but I doubt] in the case. He is not just moving about freely, his is also acting with impunity. There is a video of him currently making the rounds on social media where he is saying that those who will collect his money and refuse to vote for him will die of stomachache, or something to that effect. This shows that he is already planning to engage in the unlawful act of vote-buying.Like the President of Northern Youth Council of Nigeria, Comrade Isah Abubakar, noted at a press conference shortly before the May 2022 governorship primaries of the PDP, “Alhaji Liman Isah Kantigi was tried in absentia and convicted in line with extant laws. He ought to have been apprehended and prosecuted accordingly as mandated by the trial court. Unfortunately, he returned to the country and has been walking freely without arrest and any possibility of prosecution, in brazen disregard for the valid court order.”The group drew the attention of both the EFCC and the Nigeria Police Force to the fact that Kantigi, who was said to be at large, was not only back, but also running for the governorship of Niger State under the platform of the PDP. I believe the EFCC should make hay while the sun is still shining.Ndabagi wrote in from Bida, Niger State