On July 12, 1974, in response to General Gowon's call for public probity, Lagos businessman, Godwin Daboh from Gboko swore to an affidavit at a Lagos High Court alleging impropriety and misuse of public funds and many irregularities in the award of government contracts against Joseph Servuan Tarka, the Federal Commissioner (Minister) for communications and a very influential politician from his own Benue/Plateau State.
Before resorting to this unorthodox legal procedure, Daboh had written several petitions stating his accusations against the minister to Gen Gowon, the police, the security services and other Armed Forces Chiefs.
He gave them copious details and photocopies of the contract papers and evidence of the alleged graft. No agency of government investigated his complaints or even acknowledged receiving them.In "a mood of righteous indignation Daboh proceeded to court to swear to an affidavit which became public document to compel the authorities to investigate the allegations and sanction the minister if found wanting or guilty of the accusations.
IT TURNED OUT THAT DABOH WAS ENSTRANGED PROTEGE AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATE OF THE ACCUSED MINISTER AND THAT HE HAD AN AXE TO GRIND WITH HIS ERST WHILE BOSS. The press on getting hold of the allegations went to town in conducting detailed investigations since the security organs of state controlled by Gen Gowon refused to do so.
Three newspapers led the way in this piece of investigative journalism. The New Nigerian, Daily Time and the Daily Sketch pursued the case with an unprecedented zeal and wrote editorials calling on Tarka to defend himself with his own explanations.
Tarka kept mum refusing to confirm or refute the detailed allegations of corruption made against him in a public document inspite of the public pressure.
Gen Gowon was in a quandary. He could not investigate or issue any public statement on the scandal affecting a senior member of his cabinet inspite of his earlier public protestations of cleaning the Augean stable.
Meanwhile the press was united in the crusade and they were calling for the sack of the Honourable commissioner, on July 28, 1974, Daboh threatened to expose the dubious conduct of many other public officials "if this fellow does not resign from the cabinet" General Gowon's hands were forced and he reluctantly asked Tarka to resign.
It was the first time in Nigeria's political history that a minister of cabinet rank had been forced out of office for alleged corrupt practices after being exposed in the media.
CAN THIS STILL HAPPEN TODAY IN THE PRESENT NIGERIA?
RPI.........Rethink, Rebirth, Rebuild.
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