Tajudeen Balogun
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has absolved the executive arm of government from delay in some high-profile political cases in the country, alleging that the judiciary is culpable of the indiscretion.
Malami spoke on Monday while answering questions on Channels’ interview programme: “Politics Today,” monitored by The Eagle Online.
When asked about the country’s human rights score, Malami, who insisted that Nigeria is rated higher among the comity of nations, maintained that the hands of the executive are cleaned, given the longer time the judiciary spends on trials and making adjudication on some sensitive and high-profile suits.
He said despite this lapse, the executive has taken legislative steps and measures to ensure speedy hearing and ruling on some of the political cases that have been pending in various courts across the country.
When asked why the Federal Government FG has failed to take drastic steps on the allegation of misconduct against the former Head of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari, in his relationship with popular cybercrime fraudster, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi, in his alleged $1.1 million fraudulent deal, the AGF replied that the case has both local and international jurisdictions, citing United Arab Emirate, United States and Nigeria as relevant parties.
Following this, Malami who admitted that prima facie – substantial grounds to prosecute – had been since established against Kiari, confirmed that if requested, Nigeria would not hesitate to extradite the indicted senior police officer.
He restated that the multiple jurisdictions in Kyari’s case were the main factor causing delay for the FG to take a crucial step on his matter.
Malami, who was also asked about the update on allegations against the sacked Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu said the former anti-graft head’s matter was still a “work in progress” as the components involved in his sack saga require thorough investigation.
He cautioned that the relevant public agencies should be allowed to carry out and conclude their investigations, after which the executive will take its final decision, restating that this was the factor that makes the story to be work in progress.
Responding on the trials of both the Biafra and Oodu’a nations’ agitators and campaigners – Nnmadi Kanu and Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, Malami said Igboho’s detention and prosecution were of international dimension, therefore, there was no hope of any political resolution.
On the trial of Kanu, the Leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Malami asserted it was evidence that the law is “taking its natural cause”.
Malami also defended that the FG has taken appreciable steps to support the clamour for restructuring.
On the amended Electoral Act, President Muhammadu Buhari’s delay to assent the bill and the 2023 general election, Malami stated that he had no details on the amended Act as the copy has just been dropped in his office on Monday evening, yet pledged that he would always discharge his duties as the first Law Officer in the country and as demanded by the constitution.
The Minister, who also responded to the question on allegation of political witch hunting made last week by former Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, exonerated Buhari’s administration, stressing that the All Progressives Congress chieftain’s claim could not be confirmed, but at the same time could not be dismissed, promising after due investigation, justice would be done to all parties.
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