As Abdulraheem’s legal counsel I need to clarify this so that you’ll be clear-minded after I must have made my final submission in this case of money laundering and aggravated stealing of pension funds. The only connection there may be between my client and the other fellow is that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alleged that my client helped to catch pension fund looters, but he helped himself to just a few billions of naira in the process.
In Nigeria, there’s nothing like each person faces justice for their own offence, one can be guilty of collective tribal offence. Ha, my Lord stares at me like he never heard that kind of offence before. See, you can be automatically guilty just because you belong to a particular tribe or religion. When Nigerians say your tribe is guilty, you pay the price wherever you show up.
Now, if it were under a different situation and I stood before you on behalf of my client, I would have freely admitted that Abdulraheem and Johnny are one and the same, citizens of one country. I would because I believe in one Nigeria. I believe all Nigerians are united in one nation. But the situation is dire and I can’t afford to put the life of my client in jeopardy by risking a verdict from your desk that’s based on guilt by association.