Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on Wednesday disclosed that the case of alleged forgery instituted against the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki; the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu’ and other is in the public interest.
Abubakar also said instituting the case was is tandem with his constitutional responsibility as the AGF.
Malami, who appeared before the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights, said investigation revealed that the amendment of the Senate Rules is against the Senate’s tradition of amending Senate Rules book.
Efforts by the committee to make the AGF agree with them that the issue was an internal matter, was rebuffed as Malami.
He stated that the amendment of the Rule book as it is can never be the position of the Senate because it was done through back door.
The AGF said he wouldn’t comment further on the case since it has already been filed in court and suspects arraigned, adding he has constitutional obligation to institute criminal case against anybody in the country.
He added that the AGF has the responsibility to institute criminal charges against anybody also.
Malami said: “The issue that constitutes the basis of this invitation is a criminal case instituted against certain members of the Senate.
“It is an act that predates my appointment.
“There are series of suits.
“The date of interest is 23rd of July, 2015.
“I was appointed on the 12th of November, 2015.
“That is four months after the investigation was concluded by the Nigeria Police Force.
“I have an obligation in the sustenance of democracy to institute a legal action from an investigation that has been concluded.
“It was based on this that I took the action.
“The action was not taken to truncate any democratic process, but was taken to protect the democracy.
“There are now two pending cases in court.
“One is a civil case instituted by some senators.
“The other is a criminal case instituted by the office of the AGF.
“These two matters are subjudice.
“When a matter is before a court of law, nobody is entitled to look into it.
“I am guided by the Senate Standing Rules 53.
“One of the cases was instituted by the office of the AGF.
“It will be wrong to make any comments on a case still in court.
“The two matters are pending.
“Based on that, I will not say more.
“To my mind, the issue had been overtaken by events.”
On the reason why he did not attend past sittings of the committee to which he was invited, Malami said: “I have a tradition of honouring social invitations, much less of an institution like the Senate.
“I know what they stand for.
“My inability to come was not out of arrogance or anything.
“I was out of the country when the invitations were sent.
“The initiation behind the forgery case was taken in the interest of the public and in the interest of democracy.
“I want to state clearly that my decision was based on public interest and the aim to prevent abuse of public offices.
“The National Assembly has the powers to regulate its own procedure.
“But the basis for filing my case was that the position taken was not that of the Senate.
“The Senate Standing Rules allegedly amended in 2015 did not follow the traditional way of amendment.
“It can therefore not be the position of the Senate.
“That is where my quarrel comes in.
“If there are certain persons that did not allow the process of amending the Senate Standing Rules go through the constitutional process, we have a responsibility to act by way of initiating a criminal proceeding against those involved.
“The public interest and the need to ensure that no abuse is allowed, I have to take the step to prevent that.”
The Eagle Online gathered that the AGF had a “secret” meeting with Saraki in his office on Tuesday evening.
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