Group Backs Down on Petition Against Defence Minister, Gives Reason
- The Young Guardians of Accountability (YGA) has withdrawn its petitions to EFCC and ICPC against Defence Minister Mohammed Abubakar Badaru, admitting the allegations were incorrect
- YGA acknowledged that Badaru did not violate Nigeria's Code of Conduct for public officeholders and commended his commitment to transparency and fighting corruption
- The group issued an apology to the Defence Minister for the inconvenience caused and praised his dedication to serving the nation
The Young Guardians of Accountability (YGA), an anti-corruption advocacy group, has officially withdrawn its petitions to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar Badaru.
The group, in a statement made available to Legit.ng on Thursday, April 4, acknowledged that the allegations were erroneous and emphasized the minister's commitment to fighting corruption in the country.
Source: Facebook
YGA admits error in December petition
In a letter dated April 3, 2025, addressed to both the EFCC and ICPC, YGA’s chairman, Adediran Raymond, expressed regret over the claims made in the group's initial petition on December 17, 2024.
The petition accused the Defence Minister of violating Nigeria's public officeholders’ code of conduct.
Mr. Raymond explained that upon further review, the group realized that the minister had not breached any regulations, prompting them to retract their petition and avoid unjustly targeting a senior government official.
“We, the Young Guardians of Accountability, hereby formally withdraw our petition titled Urgent Request for Investigation and Prosecution of Mr. Mohammed Abubakar Badaru, Hon. Minister of Defence,” the letter read.
Minister's commitment to transparency acknowledged
The group’s decision to retract its petition was primarily based on the minister’s commitment to adhere to the Code of Conduct Bureau Act, which governs the conduct of public officeholders in Nigeria.
According to the letter, Badaru has since addressed and corrected the concerns raised in the original petition.
“Based on his recent actions, which have shown his full commitment to complying with the relevant provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act, we have decided to withdraw our petition,” Raymond stated.
Apology issued to Defence Minister
YGA’s chairman concluded the letter by apologizing to Minister Badaru for the undue inconvenience caused by the group's inaccurate allegations.
He further praised the minister for his dedication to the service of the Nigerian people, underscoring his integrity in the ongoing fight against corruption.
“We apologize for the inaccuracies in our initial petition and commend the minister for his unwavering commitment to fighting corruption and serving the nation,” Raymond stated.
Nigerian Army announces fresh recruitment
Previously, Legit.ng reported that the Nigerian Army has announced an opening for the 89 Regular Recruit Intake for Trade and Non-Tradesmen and women. According to the military authority, the registration for the exercise will commence online.
The military noted that the application is open to single individuals who possess a National Identity Number, as well as a Bank Verification Number slip and must be a Nigerian by birth. Interested applicants must be medically, physically and psychologically fit, and must be in line with the military guidelines.
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Source: Legit.ng
