Alia sacked Benue Attorney General to save face – Group

A pro-democracy group known as Defenders of Democracy (DoD), has accused the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia of sacking indefinitely suspended the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Mister Fidelis Mnyim as a mere face-saving tactic to escape public criticism over his government’s decision to join the suit filed by 16 states including Benue challenging the legality of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC

In a statement signed by its President Amos Uchiv, the group described as the height of hypocrisy, Governor Alia’s claim that he suspended the Attorney General because the latter took an ultra vires decision to join the state in a suit against the legality of anti-graft agency. The group claimed that the Governor has assured the suspended Attorney General that he would soon be recalled to subsume duty.

The statement reads:

“We read with disgust, but no surprise that Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has indefinitely suspended the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Mister Fidelis Mnyim over the inclusion of Benue among the states challenging the legality of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

“We want the public not to be deceived by Governor Alia’s announcement of the Attorney General’s suspension. It is a mere smokescreen to confuse the people and save himself from the backlash of criticisms that have trailed the suit filed by 16 state governors including him (Alia) to challenge the legality of EFCC.

“Our inner sources have hinted that Governor Alia has already spoken with Barrister Mnyim and assured him that the suspension was just to cover the shame that greeted the news of the suit he and other governors filed against EFCC; and that as soon as the dust settles down, Mnyim will return to his duty post as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order.

“We are not surprised because Governor Alia is not new to double standards and a lack of respect for transparency and accountability. Since taking over, his government has been accused of high level corruption with some civil society groups writing several petitions to EFCC to investigate the Governor. He has never responded to any of those allegations and has also refused to give account of his handling of the public resources at both state and local government levels. Alia has closed the bank accounts of government ministries and agencies for over a year and he has crippled the civil service. Nothing works in Benue State government offices anymore. The governor does not follow due process in the award of contracts and any other government procedures. Alia is the sole administrator of Benue State. His supposed subordinates are redundant.

“A governor who arrested whistleblowers and had them detained for exposing his handling of state funds can do anything to see that EFCC is scrapped. The move by Governor Alia to suspend Barrister Mnyim is the height of hypocrisy and a shameful attempt at saving his face when the ruling shall go against the plaintiffs among whom are the Benue State government.

“Firstly, the timing of Alia’s decision is suspect. The lawsuit, which involves 16 state governors contesting the constitutionality of the laws establishing the EFCC, has been in the public domain for weeks. Notably, the Supreme Court has already reserved judgment on the matter, indicating that the case is well underway.

“If Governor Alia was truly concerned about the implications of being part of this suit, one must question why he did not act sooner. It seems disingenuous for him to feign surprise over Benue State’s involvement at this late stage. This raises an important question: Did Alia genuinely just discover the state’s participation in the lawsuit, or is he attempting to deflect attention from his own potential complicity in a matter that could have serious implications for his administration?

“If Governor Alia was truly not aware that his Attorney General had joined the state in the suit challenging the establishment of EFCC, then does it mean he is not aware of what happens in his government? Does it imply that one day, someone will come and purchase the state but he won’t be aware?

“By suspending Barrister Mnyim instead of withdrawing the state from the lawsuit, Alia is engaging in a tactic of scapegoating. This action suggests that rather than addressing the underlying issues surrounding the case, Alia would rather silence dissent within his own administration. Such a maneuver reflects a troubling trend in leadership where accountability is evaded, and those who act within their mandate are punished for doing so.

“The questions begging for answers are; who has been footing the legal fees/bills for appearances/representation of the state in the case against EFCC? Was the suspended Attorney General funding the case at the Supreme Court all by himself without Governor Alia’s approval? Why has the governor not directed that the state should immediately be withdrawn from the case as Anambra, Adamawa and Ebonyi have done in the past few days?

“The implications of this suspension are far-reaching and Governor Alia knows too that his action may be interpreted as an attempt to obscure his own motives. By portraying Mnyim’s decision as an overreach, he had diverted attention away from the broader implications of the lawsuit and the role of anti-graft agencies in the state. This is a tactic to shield himself from scrutiny regarding his administration’s dealings, particularly in relation to allegations of corruption or mismanagement.

“It beats us how Mnyim who had been one of the governor’s super commissioners, giving him all sort of counsels in addition to prosecuting court cases for him (the governor) eventually became a scapegoat over a matter that Governor Alia gave his nod and directive for the state to join in.

“Governor Alia has clearly decided to throw Barrister Mnyim under the bus as a smokescreen because perhaps he has discovered that the judgment may not favour the plaintiffs and that would have a ripple effect on those who are openly against the anti-graft war in the country.

“Recall that the Alia-led government with the counsel of Mnyim and approval of the governor also fought against the granting of full financial autonomy to local governments, but they failed in that regard too.

“Governor Alia’s penchant for fighting the Federal Government through his proxies is indeed worrisome as it is capable of affecting the fortunes of the state and standing on the way to critical developmental support from the centre.

“We now understand why the Catholic Church does not permit its priests to join politics. Alia’s hypocrisy and penchant for lies is shocking. This was not the training the church gave him. Thank goodness the church suspended him before he could drag its reputation to the ground. The Bishop of Makurdi Diocese had earlier suspended him over cases of immorality and that of Gboko Diocese suspended him for venturing into politics in violation of the church’s strict code.

“We urge the anti-graft agencies especially the EFCC to beam their searchlights on Governor Alia and his government as the massive and nauseating financial malfeasance in the state is alarming.
We equally expect the suspended Attorney General, Barrister Fidelis Mnyim not to allow Governor Alia tarnish his hard earned reputation by remaining silent. He should speak out and let the public hear his own side of the story,” DoD concluded.