By Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko
In Nigeria and in so much of the black continent of Africa, the institutions of law enforcement are only strong to the extent that those who are subjected to the full wrath of the law are not connected to the powers that be. In Nigeria, the citizens are not all equal before the law because most times, the law enforcers look at the faces of the people they ought to arrest and if they are connected to senior government officials, they are spared. In Nigeria, only the poor suffer whilst those connected to those who are in authority are excluded from the scrutiny mounted by the police. It is said that the officials of the law enforcement agencies are dictated to by senior government officials and instructed on how to go about enforcing the law.
In Nigeria, for instance, family members of those who wield political influences and powers such as the Governors and the President, are treated as sacred cows and the country pays so much to provide security cover for these privileged persons with filial connection to the public office holders. Definitely, in Nigeria, the direct children of the president and governors are assumed by the police to be above the law. Nigeria has been made to be a country in which individuals who wield political influences, behave as if they are bigger than even the institutions of law enforcement.
If for instance, the brother of the president is accused of any infraction such as the allegation of having sex with underage girls, or suspicion of misconduct in public office, it is definitely not possible to expect that the Nigeria Police Force can effect the arrest and prosecution of the accused individual. As stated earlier, those who have any direct links to those in political offices are treated differently from the rest of the people who are assumed to be the commoners.
In a lot of nations of Africa, for instance, in Nigeria or Uganda, the sons of the president behave as if they are above the law and these people enjoy unfettered access to the highest number of armed security forces moving about with them. In Uganda, the President somehow managed to find a slot in the Ugandan Army for his first son just as the Uganda political establishment railroaded the first son of the president of Uganda to the rank of a General and the father appointed him as head of the Defence sector. That first son of Yoweiri Museveni has been involved in high profile politically charged controversial incidents. He was recently accused of ordering the arrest of the opposition politician who recently challenged his father during the last presidential election which reportedly saw his father winning the election even after he has been the president for over three decades.
In Nigeria, the first son of the president, Mr. Seyi is living so large so much so that he enjoys very elaborate security details at public costs. Seyi is reportedly protected by soldiers, DSS operatives and the police. The son of president Tinubu is also rumoured to be so powerful and influential that he has been directly linked to some persons who got high federal appointments in his father’s administration through his influence.
It is even said in the media circles that within the office of the president, that there are two distinct cabals headed by Seyi and the other by the Chief of Staff to President Tinubu and these cabals are alleged to be influencing most of the decisions made by the current administration in Nigeria. Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka recently voiced his condemnation of the massive security forces that protect just one person only because he is Seyi Tinubu. Soyinka’s public outburst was significant going by the fact that Soyinka had rarely spoken out against the actions or inactions of president Tinubu even when the administration has inflicted the harshest economic recessions in the history of Nigeria. Soyinka have always maintained sealed lips against President Tinubu. But he spoke out about Seyi who is enjoying so much of privileges only because he is the son of the president.
But this is not the same with advanced societies. In the United Kingdom, a senior member of the Royal family Andrew is under arrest by the police.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who until he was stripped of his Royal title of a Prince, has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office after police opened an investigation linked to his dealings with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Jeffrey Epstein is the character behind the infamous Epstein files in which Andrew and several other powerful figures around the World were mentioned.
Thames Valley Police said officers detained a man in his sixties from Norfolk on Thursday morning and carried out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk. The force did not name the suspect, in line with national guidance. Multiple British media outlets, including the BBC and The Guardian, identified the man as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Police confirmed the man “remains in police custody at this time”. Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said: “Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office. It is important that we protect the integrity and objectivity of our investigation as we work with our partners to investigate this alleged offence.”
He added: “We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time.”
International media cited photographs published on Thursday showed unmarked police vehicles and plainclothes officers at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk shortly after 8am.
The BBC reported that searches were also under way at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, where Mountbatten-Windsor lived until recently. Norfolk Constabulary said it was “supporting a Thames Valley Police investigation into misconduct in a public office”.
The arrest took place on Mountbatten-Windsor’s 66th birthday. He moved earlier this month to Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate.
Already the King of England, King Charles 111 has publicly supported the decision of the police to arrest his brother who is eight in line tk the Royal throne. This is extraordinary and this truly demonstrates the principle that nobody is above the law.
King Charles has officially released a statement as follows:
“I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office,” Charles said, per the BBC. “What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation. Let me state clearly: the law must take its course. As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all. Charles R.”
A British media outlet wrote that King Charles and other senior royals have maintained a “business as usual” approach this week, and “some senior royals” even have engagements later today.
A statement from the police reads “As part of the investigation, we have today (19/2) arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office and are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk. The man remains in police custody at this time. We will not be naming the arrested man, as per national guidance. Please also remember that this case is now active so care should be taken with any publication to avoid being in contempt of court.”
The lessons or lesson for us in Nigeria and so much of the African continent, is that a society that does not respect equality before the law for all citizens, is unworthy of being categorised as civilised and democratic because civilisation and democracy only thrive when all citizens are treated equally before the law. And the truth is that until we in Nigeria and Africa allow the institutions of law enforcement to operate independently and freely and to ensure that nobody is above the law, then Nigeria and these African nations will continue to revolve around the chair of lack of development and we would be far from civilisation. Nigerians and Africans must be vigilant and insist on the supremacy of the rule of law.
EMMANUEL NNADOZIE ONWUBIKO is the founder of HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA).
