By Dayo Benson, Political Editor & Daniel Idonor
ABUJA—As scheming for the position of INEC Chairmanship hots up, some interest groups opposed to the candidature of Malam Bukhari Bello may have perfected plots to prevent him from getting the top job.
Vanguard had exclusively reported last week, that Bello, baring any last minute change of mind by the Presidency, was to be named substantive INEC chairman.

However, those believed to be opposed to his choice were said to be making frantic moves to stop his appointment by raking up fraud allegations against him while he was Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC.

But, a source close to Bello said he (Bello) had risen in his defence, adding  that the allegations were unfounded.
Meantime, barring last minute change of mind, President Goodluck Jonathan will this morning unveil the identity of the new chairman when he presents his nominee for the plum job to the public.

However, it was not clear whether the name of the new appointee would be made public after the National Council of State, NCS,  has verified the prospective candidate, as the name is also expected to be sent to the National Assembly for final approval.

President Jonathan, according to the Nigerian Constitution, is expected to present the chief supervisor of the 2011 general elections, to the Council of State which comprise all former heads of state and presidents; and serving governors for ratification.

The presentation which Vanguard learnt would top the agenda of proceedings during the meeting that will holds at the Aso Chambers of the Presidential Villa is one of the rituals to be performed before the appointment of any new INEC chairman.

This is coming barely a week after Jonathan spoke of his desire to present a new INEC nominee for Council’s ratification, today, as required by law.

Bello not corrupt — Aide

According to Bello’s aide who spoke against the backdrop of high expectations by Nigerians: “When Bukhari was removed (from Human Rights Commission), his letter of removal simply said he was recalled to the Ministry of Justice. It did not state the reason as “due to allegations of fraud.

”As a civil servant, even up till today, if there were such allegations against you, either by petition or otherwise, you are informed of the petition or allegation, querried about it and given an opportunity to respond. A panel can then be set up to examine your representations or defence and make recommendations as to your guilt or otherwise. If you are guilty, you are then interdicted, or suspended and charged to court for the determination of the crime,” he argued.

The aide added that. “In the case of Bukhari, there was no such thing. He was never informed orally or in writing about any allegations of fraud. It has always remained a rumour by those who peddle it, and for what purpose one cannot say.

”I believe the allegation of fraud was an escape route for the then Attorney- General who was embarrassed by the avalanche of attack on the indiscretion of  the AG in removing Bukhari for no just cause. The international community like the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also demanded explanations from the AG. It was an escape route for him to allege orally in the papers that there was a petition and allegations of fraud.

”To buttress the emptiness of the allegation, upon pressure from the international community for the then Attorney-General to submit the report of the purported investigation of fraud against Bukhari, the AG on 20 February  2007 conceded in a letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that the govt had discontinued the investigation against Bukhari.

”Putting together the fact that Bukhari was never confronted orally or in writing of any allegations of fraud as a citizen or as a civil servant, and the letter of the Attorney-General  to the UNHCHR, it is obvious that the purported allegation of fraud was spurious and aimed at intimidation and justifying the unjustifiable action of the moment by the AG in Bukhari’s removal from office.

”As a result of this unjustifiable action of the then Minister of Justice, National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, was downgraded from A status to B status in the comity of National Human Rights Institutions.”

The source also stated that “Prior to this, Bello was the Chair of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions. He got the NHRC accredited to A status at the International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions (ICC) in Geneva.

”NHRC was also a member of the four nations sub accreditation committee of the ICC responsible for accrediting other National Human Rights Institutions all over the world. He got affiliate status for the NHRC at the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights.

”Everyone, of course, knew the reason for Bukhari’s removal. On the day of his removal, the former Minister of Justice  called him as an old friend and told him that he had been directed to remove him from office because he was supporting the rights of journalists who were being charged for treason (Gbenga Aruleba and co) and that he make comments that the 3rd term was unconstitutional.

”But the former Minister of Justice could not acknowledge this publicly and had to resort to the allegation of fraud to save his face, an unfounded and unsubstantiated allegation.

”You will recall the effort of the civil society to try the AG for misconduct and pass  a vote of no confidence on him at Rockview Hotel before the csos were dispersed by mobile police,” he added.