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Tag: Abubakar Malami (SAN)

  • Why Executive can’t spend recovered loots – AGF

    Why Executive can’t spend recovered loots – AGF

    The Minister of Justice and Attorney General if the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) has blamed the Legislature for the inability of the Executive to put to use funds recovered from looters.

    The Minister also said the responsibility of ensuring that suspected looters were denied bail by the courts lies with the Legislature, who must amend existing laws to that effect.

    Malami said these while responding to questions at an event tagged: “The Federal Government (FG) – Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) parley on policy synergy to ensure development,” held in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State yesterday. The event, aired live on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) was monitored in Abuja yesterday.

    On why the Federal Government was yet to put to use funds recovered from looters, Malami said: “Expenditure is a constitutional function of appropriation. And that, exclusively, is the responsibility of the National Assembly upon the preparation and presentation by the Executive.

    “It is not something that the Executive can simply deep its hands into the recovered funds without the supporting legislation by way of appropriation,” Malami said.

    On why those accused of corruption, and briefly detained in prison, were now walking freely, Malami said it was the duty of the Judiciary, acting on the dictate of existing laws, to decide whether or not a detained suspect should be granted bail.

    “As regard the issue that some people allegedly charged to court are moving freely over the place, I think I have to make it clear that issues about the freedom and liberty of an accused or suspect, is a chain that involves the Executive, the Legislature and indeed, the Judiciary.

    “But, the ultimate, as regard the grant of bail and the freedom of an accused or suspect lies exclusively with the Judiciary, which has the responsibility of exercising the discretion to grant or refuse bail in any given circumstances.

    “But, above all, the responsibility of ensuring that no corrupt suspect or accused enjoys freedom is exclusively the responsibility of the Legislature, which has the responsibility of changing our laws to ensure that those who are charged with corruption and associated vices are not granted bail,” Malami said.

  • Rivers Rerun: Balance of N360million alleged bribed used to buy cars, others

    Rivers Rerun: Balance of N360million alleged bribed used to buy cars, others

    What happened to the balance of the N360m outstanding balance of the money allegedly used to influence the outcome of the Rivers State senatorial election rerun?

    The source said the money was used to buy choice vehicles’, houses and renovate some other ones.

    A 15-man panel set up by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris had last week come out with a report that indicted the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike.

    The panel claimed that it recovered N111.3million from N360million alleged to have been given to 23 officials of INEC.

    Giving an update on the findings of the panel, a source close to the investigation who pleaded anonymity said: “The panel recovered discovered that some of them bought houses, cars and even renovated their existing houses with the money.

    “The panel also discovered that some gave out money to their relatives while some others invested money. Several cars were recovered and they would be tendered during prosecution in court.

    The Source further gave more insight on what the panel unraveled during investigation.

    He said: “In the audio tape that went viral, the governor was mentioning 8,8,7; and what he was referring to was the officials of INEC. He gave the leaders of the INEC officials from the three states, N20million each.

    “They brought outsiders for the election because they wanted neutral body to ensure transparency but they were bribed by the governor. They were 23 in number, eight came from Osun or Oyo, eight from Plateau and seven from Anambra state.

    “If you listened to the tape that went viral, you will discover that there was a part where the governor was shouting, kill them because they didn’t do their work well. The three states where officials came from have a leader. The leaders were the ones that were given N20million and others were given N15qwmillion. So, it was the leaders that he was threatening to kill.

    “As mentioned by the IG, the report will be sent to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) will now go through it and necessary action will be taken against those indicted. He is the Chief Law of the Federation.

    On whether the report was doctored and if it was just a political move to tarnish the image of the governor who belongs to the opposition party, the source said: “where did the police get the huge amount of money from? Those cars and houses recovered, where did the panel get it from? Is it police money or something?

    “23 people have been arrested and they all confessed. It was through them that the money was recovered; it was through them that the cars were also recovered. The 23 people arrested, the panel have their video confessions and they all wrote their official statement with their hand. They are all educated people and they used their own handwriting to write their confession and they also talked on video. They videos will be provided during prosecution.

    “All documents are available on how they were summoned to the government house, how they were given the money inside the government house and how vehicles were brought to them to move with the Ghana Must Go bags, and how they were moved to their hotels. Everything was confessed to on video.

    “This is not a political issue. This is a case where money that was supposed to be used to build schools, hospitals, roads and others social amenities have been squandered. So, whoever does wrong will be made to carry his or her cross irrespective of political affiliation.

    “So, that is the true position of everything. Everything is there and all the people that the money were recovered from are alive, they confessed both in written form and in videos.

    On why they were not presented to the press that time, the source simply said: “we could not present them that time because they are INEC staff and they are yet to be dismissed. Also, we want the Attorney General to take action first before they would be interviewed but all evidences are on ground. It is a very clear case”.

  • Adegboruwa to court: stop Buhari from replacing Onnoghen

    Adegboruwa to court: stop Buhari from replacing Onnoghen

    Human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa on Tuesday sued President Muhammadu Buhari at the Federal High Court in Lagos over the non-confirmation of Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen.
    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, the Senate, the National Judicial Council, Justice Onnoghen and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN) are the other defendants.
    Adegboruwa is asking the court to direct the President, and in his absence the Vice-President, to forward Justice Onnoghen’s name to the Senate for confirmation as CJN forthwith.
    Walter OnnoghenHe is also praying for an order of injunction restraining the President and the Vice-President from appointing another candidate as CJN apart from Justice Onnoghen, who is the most senior justice of the Supreme Court.
    Adegboruwa wants the court to stop the Senate from accepting, entertaining, deliberating upon or considering the nomination of any other candidate that may be forwarded to it by the President or the Vice-President.
    He sought an order of injunction to restrain the National Judicial Council (NJC) from entertaining any request to consider another candidate for the office of CJN apart from Onnoghen who has already been selected.
    The lawyer is seeking a declaration that under section 292 (i) (a) of the 1999 Constitution, the failure to forward Onoghen’s name to the Senate for confirmation amounts to his compulsory retirement in a manner that is inconsistent with the due process of law and is, therefore, unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.
    He also wants the court to hold that by virtue of section 153(1), Paragraph 21 of the Third Schedule and section 231 (1-5) of the Constitution, the NJC is the only body authorised by law to select and recommend any candidate for appointment as CJN.
    Among others, he wants the court to hold that Onoghen is the fit and proper person to be appointed as the CJN upon his selection and recommendation by the NJC.
    No date has been fixed for the hearing.
  • Court strikes out Buhari’s N50b suit against NTA, IGP, Ali, others

    Court strikes out Buhari’s N50b suit against NTA, IGP, Ali, others

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a N50billion suit by President Muhammadu Buhari against two media houses, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), former Director of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential campaign organisation, Ahmadu Ali, among others.

    The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/267/2015 was filed by the President on March 23, 2015 through a team of lawyers led by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

    The suit sought to among others, prohibit the defendants from further airing and publishing an offensive documentary produced by then President Jonathan’s campaign organisation, which portrayed Buhari and his party – All Progressives Congress (APC) in bad light.

    Defendants in the suit included DAAR Communication Plc – owner of African Independent Television (AIT), National Television Authority (NTA), National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), IGP, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Dr. Ahmadu Ali.

    Buhari had argued, in his statement of claim that the documentary titled: “The Real Buhari,” aired on NTA and AIT during the last presidential campaign, amounted to hate speech, which contravened Section 95(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010.

    He stated that the hate broadcast by Daar Communication (AIT) and NTA, contained fabricated and concocted facts about the purported past of the 1st plaintiff (Buhari), meant to mislead the electorate for the benefit of then President Jonathan, then Vice President, Namadi Sambo and the PDP.

    The plaintiffs – Buhari and the APC – sought among others, a declaration that the publication and airing of the documentary breached Section 95 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 and Section 2(g) – (n) of the NBC Act 2010.

    The plaintiffs also urged the court to award N50b in exemplary and aggravated damages against the defendants, and in their (plaintiffs’) favour.

    They equally sought an order directing the 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th defendants (Daar Communication, NTA, PDP and Ali to publish “unreserved apologies” in the Economist of London, the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Cable News Network (CNN), among others.

    When the case was mentioned Wednesday, no lawyer announced appearance for any of the parties.

    In a brief ruling, Justice John Tsoho noted that the case was filed on March 23, 2015, but that the plaintiffs failed to take any follow-up steps.

    “It (the case) is deemed abandoned. And it is hereby struck out,” the judge said.

  • Court strikes out suit challenging Saraki’s trial at CCT 

    Court strikes out suit challenging Saraki’s trial at CCT 

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a suit challenging the propriety of the trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole struck out the suit following an oral application by Mrs. H. M. Eken, lawyer to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN).

    At the commencement of proceedings, Mrs. Eken noted that the applicant – Timipa Jenkins Okponipere – was absent in court. She argued that the applicant’s absence was an indication the lack of diligence on his part to prosecute the case.

    Mrs. Eken urged the court not only to strike out the suit, but to also award N20, 000 cost against the applicant.

    Ruling, Justice Kolawole noted that on the previous adjourned date of September 29, 2016 neither the applicant nor the two respondents were in court.

    He noted that although the hearing notices ordered by the court were not served on parties, the fact that the 2nd respondent was in court showed more diligence on the AGF’s part.

    Relying on the provision of Order 19 Rule 15 of the court’s Civil Procedure Rules, the judge struck out the suit.

    He declined to award any cost against the applicant on the ground that there was no evidence that hearing notice was served on the applicant.

    The applicant, who claimed to be “suing as attorney to Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki,” listed the CCT and the AGF as respondents in the suit, in which he sought among others, to restrain the respondents from proceeding with Saraki’s trial.

    Okponipere had prayed the court’s declaration that “the plan to resume the trial of Senator Abubakar Saraki at the CCT is a breach of his fundamental right to fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    He also prayed for an order compelling the CCT and AGF to suspend indefinitely, any plan to resume the trial at the CCT.

    Among the grounds relied on by the applicant, include that the trial at CCT was commenced at the wrong time; four years after Saraki allegedly committed the offences.

    “Having regard to the aims and objectives of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and its functions in sections 2 and 3 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal (CCBT) Act, Senator Saraki ought to have been prosecuted by the respondents long before he returned to public life again in 2015 as an elected Senator.

    “Indeed, the CCBT Act never contemplated that an incumbent public office holder was already corrupt before he attained public office, otherwise, people like Senator Saraki, who had a case to answer regarding his activities between 2003 and 2011 would not have been permitted to return to public life.

    “However, four years later in 2015 4enator Saraki not only returned to public life as a Senator, he went on to become the President of the Senate, Chairman of the National Assembly and Nigeria’s number three citizen.

    “It is nobody’s fault that the 1st and 2nd respondents were not vigilant enough to stop or prevent Senator Saraki from attaining public office. If truly the respondents were proactive institutions of government, they ought to have prosecuted Senator Saraki immediately after he left office as Governor of Kwara State in 2011, but they never did.

    “The failure, refusal and/or negligence of the respondents to prosecute Senator Saraki for the offences he allegedly committed between 2003 and 2011 before he returned again to public life as a Senator, vitiated all his past alleged misdeeds such that, as of June 8, 2015 when he was inaugurated as a Senator, he was assumed to be a public office holder without blemish in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of the respondents, otherwise they would have long since initiated proceedings against him.

    “The subsequent attempt to put Senator Saraki on trial over offences allegedly committed between 2003 and 2011 are not only tainted with political mischief and desperation, they constitute a breach of his fundamental right to fair hearing,” Okponipere said.

    However, the AGF, in a notice of preliminary objection, faulted the suit and urged the court to dismiss it for lacking in merit.

    The AGF noted that the subject matter of the suit did not fall within the provisions of chapter four of the Constitution, containing the guaranteed fundamental human rights.

    “The appellant lacks the locus to institute this suit on behalf of Senator Saraki in the absence of any legal basis which prevents him (Saraki) from deposing to the affidavit accompanying this application himself.

    “The grant of the applicant’s reliefs will constitute an abuse of court/judicial process having regard to the fact that the subject matter of this suit has been determined by the Supreme Court,” the AGF said.

     

  • BREAKING: Banire steps down as APC’s legal adviser

    BREAKING: Banire steps down as APC’s legal adviser

    • Quits electoral reform membership
    The National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Muiz Adeyemi Banire (SAN), has stepped down from the position following an allegation that he bribed a judge with N500,000.
    The decision is contained in a letter on Monday to the party’s National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
    Banire also wrote the Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami (SAN) about his decision to quit his membership of the Electoral Reform Committee.
    He said he was offering to step aside on moral grounds until investigation into the allegation is concluded.
    Banire’s letter is entitled: Offer to Step Aside as National Legal Adviser Pending Conclusion of Investigation of My Person by the EFCC. He copied President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN).
    The former Lagos Commissioner for Transport and the Environment said he read an online publication on October 29 entitled: APC National Legal Adviser, Muiz Banire, Allegedly paid Federal Judge N500K.
    He said he voluntarily reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to help clarify the issues.
    “The allegation, as I have come to understand it, is that a Statement of Account of one judge of the National Industrial Court, the Honourable Justice J. T. Agbadu-Fishim, who is the subject of an ongoing EFCC’s investigation, contained a June 2013 entry of a ‘N500,000.00’ payment ascribed as being from one ‘Dr. Muiz B’.
    “I did not hesitate in confirming that this probably referred to me because I remember that about three years ago, I received a text message from someone I recollected at the time to be an old colleague in my days as a lecturer at the University of Lagos, an ‘Agbadu-Fishim’ who was then a Research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, informing me of the death and funeral programme of his mother.
    “The last contact (of any sort) I had with this person before that text would have been about 14 years earlier, that is, before I was appointed Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State at the inception of civil rule in 1999 (now 17 years ago).
    “Indeed, it was with considerable difficulty that I was able to eventually recognise his face when I eventually saw him again (after 17 years of my leaving the University of Lagos) on my attendance at the EFCC on Thursday the 3rd day of November, 2016.
    “When I received the said message and his information to me of the death and funeral programme of his mother in which he solicited for financial assistance in a tone suggesting great distress, I considered it necessary to assist an old friend in dire need.
    “Without any further prompting, he sent his account details to me and I made a cash gift of N500,000.00 to him,” Banire said.
    He said while he personally never appeared before the judge, two cases worth less than N2million in legal fees were handled by lawyers in his chambers.
    Banire said: “As I have now come to realise after my interactions with the EFCC, that payment is being investigated from the angle of whether or not it was to influence the receiver in the performance of his judicial duties on the Bench of the National Industrial Court.
    “This is perfectly understandable to me within the general context of the investigation in which the allegation had arisen, and considering that I have lately come to also realise that two of my colleagues in chambers had been involved as defence counsel in two cases before the subject judge amongst 12 cases in all they have ever done at the Industrial Court since inception.
    “My review of the two case files which I came to be conscious of after my interactions with the EFCC shows that one of them was amicably settled between the parties for a sum less than N1.2m, thereby technically losing the case, whilst they won the other and that the combined professional fees (net of taxes) for the two cases was less than N2m.
    “While protesting my innocence, and will therefore do everything within legal limits to defend myself, I have, from the first instance, become aware of the allegation, offered my full cooperation to the EFCC and will continue to cooperate with, and give it all the assistance it may require of me in the course of its ongoing investigation into the matter.”
  • FG urged to reconsider arrested judges’ cases

    FG urged to reconsider arrested judges’ cases

    The Federal Government has been urged to reconsider its stance on the fate of the judges recently arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS).
    The request is contained in a letter dated October 26, 2016, authored by the Director General of the International Human Rights and Anti-corruption Society (IHRAS), Dr U. O. Udofia, to the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN).
    The group, which said it was particularly concerned with the case of Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, noted that from its members’ findings, the judge was above board.
    In the letter, a copy of which the group sent to the Director General of the DSS, the IHRAS, argued that although it supports efforts by the government to curb corruption, it must be done in accordance with the rule of law and due process.
    “Our independent investigation reveals that Justice Dr Dimgba was appointed in December 2015 as a judge of the High Court and started sitting in January 2016 and has remained a judge of high repute in the discharge of his constitutional duties effectively and transparently.
    “The case files taken by the DSS in Justice Dimgba’s residence during the DSS operations were for judgments on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the following next week, before the DSS operation on Friday night.
    “Justice Dimgba has a right under the law to take the case files for study and writing of the judgments. During the DSS operation, nothing was found, no monetary materials were found in his residence.
    “It is upon this background that we appeal to the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the DSS to reconsider the case of Justice Dimgba, whose residence was mistakenly invaded by the DSS.
    “The appeal is predicated on the outcome of our untainted and undiluted investigation and opinion poll conducted among legal practitioners and others, within and outside the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
    “All those contacted on this issue attested to the sincerity and honesty of Justice Dimgba in the discharge of his duties,”  IHRAS said.
    The group urged the Fed Govt to ensure that the fight against corruption should serve as an incentive, to encourage and not discourage all those who are working sincerely in the interest of public.
  • AGF justifies arrest of judges

    AGF justifies arrest of judges

    …Says no one immune to investigation

    The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) Tuesday justified the arrest of some judges by the Department of State Services (DSS).

    Malami argued that what happened in relation to the affected judges was mere investigation of criminal allegations.

    He contended that no one is immune to investigation under the Nigerian law, noting that once allegation of criminality was raised, it was the duty of the relevant investigating agencies to carry out investigation.

    The AGF spoke in Abuja Tuesday shortly after inaugurating the “country expert review committee for the second cycle of the review of implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).”

    Malami, who was asked by journalists to comment on the arrest of judges, said: “The fundamental consideration is whether there is an allegation of the commission of a crime;  whether there is the need for investigation, and whether the relevant provisions of the law and indeed, all circumstances, as provided in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) are put into consideration in our conduct as regard the fight against corruption.

    “The bottom line is that we have a responsibility to fight corruption. Corruption is a crime and nobody, regardless of how highly placed, and is exempted as far as issues that border on crimes and criminalities are concerned.

    “The limited exceptions as we know constitutionally are the exceptions of immunity. And to the best of my knowledge those exceptions do not apply to investigation.

    “For those that are conferred with the immunity, the right to investigate has not been taken away constitutionally.

    “So, I think the framework and the circumstances within which we are operating are clearly whether there exists the right to investigate or not, and whether the action borders on criminality.

    “Once crimes and criminality are concerned, nobody is an exception. I think the undertone should be exclusively the consideration of the existence of a prima facie case; existence of reasonable grounds for suspicion of commission of a crime.

    “And if there are, no member of the Legislature, Judiciary and Executive can definitely be exempted from investigation. I think where we are now is the point of investigation and that is what is taking place,” Malami said.

    While inaugurating the committee, Malami expressed confidence in the ability of its members to execute their responsibilities.

    He said: “The extant review focusing on Chapter I I and V of the UNCAC, relating to preventive measures against corruption in public and private sectors and asset recovery, is both necessary and timely at this time in the annals of our country, when endemic cum systemic corruption has created a great discontent between our nation’s wealth and the quality of life of ordinary citizens.

    Malami, who noted that the objectives of UNCAC were in harmony with the conviction of the current Federal Government to curb corruption, said it was necessary for members of the committee to understand the important task of nation-building which is being committed to their hands.

    “Let me emphasise that the guiding principles of the review is non-adversarial, non-punitive and not aimed at ranking state parties.

    “Nevertheless, members of the expert committee should understand that those selected, appointed or nominated by my office or your various agencies are chosen based on skills, expertise and commitment.

    “It is therefore important to note that your performance in this assignment will be a step in the direction for us as a country and people to achieve the goals that we have set for ourselves – prevent corruption, recover, return and manage stolen assets,” Malami said.

    Members of the committee are drawn from 22 agencies of the federal government, including Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-corruption Reforms (TUGAR).

     

  • FG assures of judicious application of recovered assets

    FG assures of judicious application of recovered assets

    The Federal Government has assured that stolen assets recovered from both within and outside the country will be put to judicious uses and will not be re-looted by anyone.

    Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) gave this assurance while speaking in Abuja Tuesday.

    The occasion was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the governments of Nigeria and the United Kingdom (UK) on modalities for the return of stolen assets.

    Malami, who commended the UK for its willingness to cooperate with the country in the area of recovery and return of assets stolen from Nigeria, said the Nigerian government will endeavor to prevent further looting of the nation’s wealth.

    The AGF, who frowned at alleged moves by some “individuals to use the process of asset recovery to create reputational damage for the government,” said all measures adopted since he assumed office in November last year have been aimed at “effective and efficient assets recovery.”

    He said: “Today, we are determined to change the narrative regardless of who is involved. I want to assure the international community that all funds recovered within and outside Nigeria would be judiciously utilized for projects that will benefit the poorest segment of the Nigerian society as well as enable us support reform in the justice sector.

    “The position of the law in Nigeria today is that all funds recovered should be paid directly into the Consolidated Revenue Account. Unfortunately that has not always been the case under the previous administration,” he said.

    The AGF said the current administration was committed to enacting laws, including the Proceeds of Crime Bill, to strengthen existing anti-corruption institutions, prosecution authorities and law enforcement agencies.

    Leader of the UK delegation and UK’s Minister of State for Immigration, Robert Goodwill said the signing of the memorandum was in furtherance of his country’s promise, at the last Anti-Corruption summit held in London in May, to improve the process of the return of looted assets.

    He said by this gesture, his country’s government was sending a loud message to all that the UK was no longer a safe haven for stolen assets, including looted funds.

    Goodwill, who was silent on the worth of Nigeria’s looted assets currently in his country, said the UK government was “committed to return all funds looted from the Nigerian State and we are keen to do this as soon as the necessary procedures allow.”

    He said aside the UK, f40 other jurisdictions, including British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies are willing to automatically share beneficial ownership information relating to companies, trusts, foundations and other relevant entities and legal arrangements.

    Goodwill, a Member of Parliament (MP), said: “This MoU provides the mechanism by which monies can be returned. Our ability to recover and return stolen assets should send a clear message to all, who may seek to harbour such assets overseas, that there is no safe haven in the UK.”

     

  • Alleged Forgery: APC Scandinavia reprove Senate over AGF

    Alleged Forgery: APC Scandinavia reprove Senate over AGF

    The Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Scandinavia, Mr Ayoola Lawal has advised the leadership of the Senate to desist from apportioning baseless faults on the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN) over its alleged forgery case.

    Lawal, who made this known in a recent press statement, noted the Minister of Justice is merely doing his executive duty by calling the attention of the judiciary to what he perceived was not in tandem with national policy of the President Buhari-led administration.

    According to him, if the Senate leadership is convinced that it did not forge the Senate rule as accused, at should stop raising dust over the matter and simply defend itself before the law court.

    “I tell you the truth, the attitude of the Senate to the matter raised by the AGF over forgery of Senate rule indicates that there is skeleton in the senate’s cupboard, which it cannot defend,” he said.

    Referring to the AGF’s response to the senate leadership on Friday, Lawal said: “I agree that claims by the Senate that the charge of forgery against Saraki, his deputy Ike Ekweremadu and two others, amounted to an abuse of the principle of separation of powers.”

    Charged with the Senate president and the deputy Senate president are former Clerk of the National Assembly Salisu Maikasuwa and Clerk of the Senate Bernard Efeturi.

    “Yes, this is democracy, and as the AGF has said, the senate president and his deputy have no immunity from trial. Forgery of Senate rules cannot be described as an internal affair of the Senate, never!“ he stressed.

    He then urge the AGF to continue with his rightful duty as Nigerians are fully in support of his actions, saying: “Impunity must stop at all levels and everyone accused should face the full weight of the law, if found truly guilty by the court.”
    We all deserve a better life for ourselves and generation unborn. I strongly believe that with the tenacity of Mr. President to fight indiscipline and corruption irrespective of whose ox is gored and support from majority of Nigerians, Nigeria will be great again.