John Nnorom and his ill-motivated anti-corruption crusade
Bukola Ajayi
Allegations of fraud and corruption against Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim by one John Nnorom, a disgruntled Executive Director for Finance at the defunct Air Nigeria are evidently laced with venom, envy and wilful determination to pull down. It is apparent Mr. Nnorom would not be satisfied until he takes his pound of flesh against Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim his former employer and benefactor. It is about time Nigerians as well as interested members of the public pondered about Nnorom’s allegations beyond the usual public outrage and emotion which often characterise corruption allegations. It is evident that Nnorom like other fellow travellers in the self-serving business of anti-corruption campaigns only seek to exploit the credulity of the masses by placing the burden ‘presumption of guilt’ on the accused whose reputation is seriously being damaged, and possibly irredeemably so, in the process.
However, while the gravity of allegations coming from a former top management staff against a chief executive should not be taken lightly, it is curious why Nnorom appears to know so much about Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim’s other businesses beyond his immediate briefs at the defunct Air Nigeria. We are left to ponder for whose interest and on what scores is Nnorom waging ceaseless war against his former boss. Nnorom should be bold enough to let public know exactly why he is after Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim. Who exactly is Nnorom and who are his collaborators in this ill-motivated war against one man erroneously perceived as threats by yet to be ascertained powerful interests in Nigeria? We are convinced that Nnorom’s hatchet job has political undertone and laced with the underlining objective of crippling Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim economically. What exactly has Nnorom been doing all these while since his unceremonious exit from Air Nigeria than feeding fat on the beck and call of those seeking wilful intimidation and political vendetta against Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim?
In his latest wild-goose chase against his sworn enemy in the person of Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, Nnorom sought to make a serious issue of his self-imposed; albeit self-conceited toga of anti-corruption activist. If Nnorom was genuine and selfless in his crusade, he would have availed himself of the assistance and cooperation of one of the numerous anti-corruption platforms in Nigeria. Had he done that, he probably would have been educated on the course of action. We however appreciate he would rather prefer to be a lone ranger in exercise of his folly in furtherance of the exploitation of paymasters who are obviously consumed with the ambition of running down Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim. However, Nnorom obviously has forgotten he was at some points also part of the past he now seeks to paint in bad light. For a man that lived in glass house who chose to throw stones, Nnorom apparently forgot that his records as Executive Director for Finance and the circumstances that led to his disengagement from the company are still intact and would be valid testimonial in due course.
It reeks of blatant desperation for Nnorom to indulge in bare-faced blackmail against institutions and agencies who had in the past discountenanced his jaundiced allegations having satisfied that no valid case was established against Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim. In the desperation to make outrageous sense to credulous public, Nnorom is seeking to exploit President Buhari’s anti-corruption stance without appreciating that due process and rule of law have become irreducible and irreplaceable tenets in a democratic Nigeria. If Nnorom and his collaborators had their ways, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim would be hurled into prison without trial and or fair hearing. But unfortunately for those who wish Jimoh Ibrahim crucified at all costs and for whatever motive, Nigeria is no banana republic. If Nnorom has any cogent case against agencies he sought to blackmail for allegedly not bringing Jimoh Ibrahim to book, he should seek redress in court after all Nigerians are now rest assured that the administration of President Buhari would neither obstruct the course of justice nor condone corruption. By calling on President Buhari to recover monies allegedly stolen by Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim without appreciating that due process would be followed, it is apparent Nnorom is desperately confused and frustrated.
It is rather strange Nnorom would want the world to believe that Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim is so powerful and capable of frustrating all the agencies and institutions including the Senate which he has blackmailed in his wilful and pernicious determination to drag Jimoh Ibrahim in the mud and to hang him as well. Nnorom and his bandmaster in their desperation to destroy Jimoh Ibrahim apparently forgot that EFCC and other agencies alleged of shielding Jimoh Ibrahim from prosecution are established to perform statutory functions on the basis of rule of law. To Nnorom’s utter disappointment, institutions and agencies established under the law would neither be swayed by blackmails nor unsubstantiated allegations for the purposes of satisfying the whimsical and capricious intentions of individuals or groups regardless of how influential or desperate they are in the media.
Why is Nnorom always on the trail of Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim? Who are those availing Nnorom information as to schedules and details of Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim? Without doubt, the recent facile assassination alleged by Nnorom should be taken seriously by the relevant security agencies that must not only fish out the gang for whom Nnorom is fronting as well as expose their evil agenda against Jimoh Ibrahim. It doesn’t make sense that Nnorom would not notify security agencies of the so-called assassination attempt but would rather prefer to be making vile allegation in the media over a serious matter of that nature. Nnorom was only being deceitful when he sought to hoodwink the public by instigating that: “Nigerians, including the Inspector- General of Police, our President Buhari, the DG – SSS, to note that if anything happen to me, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim should be prosecuted”. Such is the antics of a desperate man out to draw unnecessary attention in the urge to sustain smear campaigns against one man who is a victim of high-wired blackmail.
Again, we wonder why Nnorom would not be encouraged to make a formal petition to relevant authorities under the regime of President Buhari he trusted so much instead of resorting to devious smear campaign in the media which is obviously an extension of his evil agenda against Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim? Nnorom is obviously scared to approach anti corruption agencies again for fear of arrest! Or why has he refused to tell the public he was at some point arrested by the special anti-theft organ of Nigerian Police? Why is Nnorom evading the issues that led to his previous arrest and detention by the EFCC? It is on record Nnorom allegedly stole money from the defunct Air Nigeria while serving as executive director of Finance and was subsequently arrested. If Nnorom did not commit the offence as alleged, why is he not telling the public this aspect of the story which eventually led to his disengagement from Air Nigeria?
Lastly, it is on record that all the allegations made by Nnorom have been investigated by relevant agencies. Nnorom and his co-conspirators should therefore make further recourse to those agencies if not satisfied with their findings rather than turn the media to willing instrument of premeditated trials and convictions over ill-motivated allegations of corruption.
Ajayi, writes from Akure, Ondo State.