I Can't Save Amaju Pinnick, Others From Investigative Panel - Dalung

I Can't Save Amaju Pinnick, Others From Investigation - Dalung

By Niyi Busari

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Barrister Solomon Dalung has said that he lacked the constitutional power to stop the investigation that is currently ongoing by the Special Presidential Investigative Panel over alleged misappropriation of funds by the officials of the Nigeria Football Federation.

The minister who spoke with BSN Sports correspondent, cleared the air on the rumour flying around that he (Barr Solomon Dalung) met with Amaju Pinnick in Benin where the minister was quoted to promise the indicted officials that the Presidential Investigative Panel indictment hanging on NFF officials' neck will be stopped.

The Minister stated that the ministry was not responsible for the indictment of the NFF officials which was carried out by an authority constituted by law to investigate and therefore the ministry lacked constitutional power to halt or stop it.

"The ministry has no power to stop the investigation on the NFF official because the indictment is not by the ministry but an authority constituted by law to investigate. Dalung told www.bsnsports.com.ng

"It is that positive indication that was taken to court and proved by evidence.

"An indictment means positive evidence pointing to the likelihood of committing an offense. It is that positive indication that is called an indictment that is taken to court and proved by evidence, therefore, once an indictment is established by an agency that is created by law to investigate, then it remains an indictment everywhere under our laws. The minister explain further

"One thing we must know is that even the President does not even have the constitutional right to stop an investigation.

"So also the Attorney General of the Federation does not have the constitutional right to stop an investigation, he only has the power only when the person is arraigned and when the prosecution has been initiated, then that is when constitution gave him the power to enter a non-prosecu to discontinue." He concluded.

Dalung admitted that he met Amaju at the Airport in Benin when he (Dalung) was leaving for Abuja but they didn't discuss anything relating to the investigation nor the indictment by the panel.