The Yoruba have an age-long tradition of justice which is still extant. The Yoruba equate an elder who passes judgment after listening to just one side of an issue in dispute to a wicked person who will invariably pervert the course of Justice.It was in order not to run foul of this deeply rooted practice that the leadership of Afenifere, the Yoruba apex organisation, on Wednesday, October 19 visited Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former Governor of Ogun State, at his Sagamu country home where they decried what they described as the current trend of media trials which damage potentially innocent people before they are given opportunity to be heard. To the Yoruba leaders, the cause of justice can only be served when all sides to an issue are heard and everybody given a fair hearing and ample opportunity to defend himself before judgment is passed. Led by its leader Chief Reuben Fasoranti other members of the delegation included Sir Lanihun Ajayi, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, , Chief Olu Falae , Chief Pekun Awobona and Chief Seinde Arogbofa. Some younger elements of the Organisation were also in attendance. Fasoranti who spoke with reporters after a closed door meeting with Daniel and sessions with other functionaries of his administration said his team was in Sagamu to identify with Daniel in his moment of travails especially given his ongoing trial before an Abeokuta High Court over charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He said the group was identifying with the former governor because he did well when he was in government and contributed meaningfully to the development of Ogun State. He also said that as elders they had come to listen to the other side of the story relating to the allegations against him. Fasoranti said their mission was a fact-finding one and after listening to the former governor they were satisfied with his explanation relating to the charges brought against him.The Yoruba leaders went through several documents especially the ones relating to allegations against the governor. Of particular interest were documents which showed that the $4 million dollars claimed to have been stolen was actually changed into Naira and paid into the coffers of the state government on the same day the transaction was made . They saw evidence which clearly showed that at no point was the money in question used for anything other than the services of the Ogun State Government. There was no evidence whatsoever that the money was ever paid into any private individual's account. The transaction between the government, the bank which served as intermediary and the companies which bought the foreign exchange were documented in a transparent manner.Former local government chairmen were also on hand to brief the Yoruba leaders and clarify the allegation that there were illegal deductions from the coffers of the third tier of government during the last administration in Ogun State . The then Commissioner for Local Government, Aare Tunde Alabi had earlier explained that only first line statutory deductions for the payment of local government teachers, health workers, and traditional rulers were made as was the practice all over the country. He said the deductions were made during the statutory meetings of all the local governments, staff, traditional rulers, union leaders and officials of state and local government. The Yoruba leader advised those commenting on the case not to rush to judgment since the law stipulates that a man is presumed innocent until otherwise pronounced by the court. Fasoranti said the Afenifere leadership will keep an eye on how things progress, 'The principle of fair hearing must be strictly adhered to if we are ever going to boast of true democracy. We should all be fair in our actions by waiting to hear from both sides before rushing to judgment," the Afenifere leader said. They said people should wait for the outcome of the trial before making up their mind on the allegations levelled against the former governor of Ogun State by the EFCC. The Afenifere leaders were received by former members of the Ogun State House of Assembly led by Rt Hon Soyemi Coker, cabinet members in the last administration and former local government council chairmen.The timely warning of the Yoruba elders against rushing to judgment will serve the cause of justice not only in the case in the matter involving Daniel but all persons with such related issues either in the law court or in the court of public opinion. 'Olorunnimbe, a journalist wrote in from Lagos.
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