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NAFDAC corruption allegations: Akunyili gives AGF Aondoakaa seven days to recant, or face lawsuit

February 8, 2010
Image removed. Prof. Dora Akunyili, Minister of Information and Communications, has given the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mike Kaase Aondoakaa, seven days to refute a libelous statement he allegedly made about her, or face prosecution.Aondoakaa is quoted as saying of Akunyili, who last Wednesday called on the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to reconsider its position on Umaru Yar'Adua's ability to continue in office, “Let her go confront herself with what happened in NAFDAC,” suggesting impropriety against his colleague.
Aondoakaa is known to be one of those within the cabinet who feel the Vice-President should not serve as Acting President, the very issue that Mrs. Akunyili's memo to the FEC addresses. 
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In an interview published in yesterday's edition of The Nation newspaper, Aondoakaa described Akunyili as "self-seeking" and "trying to make herself an angel and a cheap hero".

Firing back, the Special Assistant to the Information Minister,  Orji Ogbonaya Orji, said Mrs. Akunyili would not dignify such a statement with a response, noting that "no amount of intimidation" could change the Minister's faith in constitutionality regarding the need for Yar’Adua to transmit a letter to the National Assembly.

"We wish to caution that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones because when you point a finger at your perceived enemies, the other four are pointing at you," he said. 

Following the publication of Mr. Aondoakaa's comments yesterday, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) ,  and the Centre for Civil Rights Research and Education (CCRRE), separately gave Aondoakaa seven days to substantiate his allegations against Mrs Akunyili, in the interest of the fight against corruption, or face prosecution. 

The CNPP warned Aondoakaa that as the chief law officer of the federation, he should not use his position to protect Mrs. Akunyili, while the CCRRE suggested that Aondoakaa is simply part of a "campaign of calumny" against Mrs Akunyili.

In the CCRREE which was issued in Abuja by its Executive Director, Chijioke Kanu,  he warned Aondoakaa: "Nigerians will definitely ask questions on the billions of Naira spent on the failed prison decongestion of the Ministry of Justice … and demand explanations to those blocking the prosecution of corrupt politicians."
Coming at the same time as today's developments at the National Assembly, and just hours before the next FEC meeting, observers say that meeting will be the most interesting FEC meeting in many years.
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