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Tag: AGF

  • Senate queries AGF over court case to stop Maina’s probe

    Senate queries AGF over court case to stop Maina’s probe

    The Senate yesterday urged the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami, to explain why he is in court to stop the National Assembly’s probe into how Mr. Abdulrashid Maina was reinstated into the service after being dismissed.

    Maina, who headed a taskforce on pension and accused of diverting funds, was secretly reinstated as an Assistant Director in the Ministry of Interior after he sneaked into the country.

    A statement by Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the upper chamber said it was surprised that the AGF who had utilized the ample opportunity given to him by both chambers of the National Assembly to state his case on the Maina issue is now the one going to court to stop the legislature’s investigation.

    “We are wondering what the AGF is afraid of. When he appeared before our committee, he was well received and fairly treated. He indeed expressed his happiness with the protection given to him by the committee handling the Maina case. Why then is it very important and urgent for him to stop the investigative hearing? What is the AGF trying to hide?

    “Let it be known that the legislature has the power of investigation on all institutions, bodies and individuals, particularly those who access funds that have been appropriated by us. We however expressed our commendation to the judiciary for upholding the principles of separation of powers and insisting on fair hearing. We believe that is the reason why the judge refused to grant the prayers of the AGF yesterday and rather insisted that the National Assembly should be put on notice and served all the court processes so that we could enter our own defence.

    “While we respect the position of the court and would respond accordingly, the Senate has further directed the committee investigating the Maina issue to expedite action and submit their reports on time. The Senate believes Nigerians are interested in knowing the how, who , why and where of what is now known as the ‘Maina Gate’. We definitely will not allow those who want the facts buried to prevail,” Abdullahi said.

  • I’m yet to be briefed on Innoson Motors Chairman’s arrest, says AGF

    I’m yet to be briefed on Innoson Motors Chairman’s arrest, says AGF

    Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami said yesterday that he has not been briefed on why the Chairman of Innocent Motors, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, was arrested.

    The Economic Financial and Crimes Commission (EFCC) two days ago had arrested Chukwuma and took him to Abuja for allegedly refusing to honour invitation, which the Innoson Motors boss has denied.

    Briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber,  Presidential Villa Abuja, the AGF said he was yet to be briefed by the agency responsible for the arrest on the reason behind the action.

    Asked to explain the circumstances behind the arrest of Chukwuma, he said: “Well, in all sincerity, I wasn’t privy to facts that led to the stated arrest. I have not been formally briefed by the relevant agencies.

    “One thing I know about Innoson is the fact that there has been a pending case between him and GTBank, which case is pending in court and is being prosecuted accordingly.

    “Other than that, I am not privy to the fact and circumstances that led to the alleged arrest yesterday (Wednesday). So, until I am briefed by the relevant agencies, I am not in the clear position to make any disclosures relating to that.”

    But jubilant crowd  yesterday stormed the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu to receive  the Chairman of Innoson  Vehicle Manufacturing Company, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma.

    He was later released by the same commission after being flown to Lagos.

    As early as 10am, traditional dancers as well as masquerades amassed at the airport awaiting the arrival of the industrialist.

    His aircraft touched ground at about 2.05 pm. As soon as the crowd sighted him, they went into wild jubilation.

    A long convoy of cars joined in escorting Chukwuma to his Enugu home, with chants of solidarity songs.

    Some of them carried solidarity placards with different inscriptions.

    Narrating his ordeal  in the hands of the EFCC to reporters  expressed surprise that the EFCC, which arrested him, could not tell him the offence he committed, adding that he refused to go after he was released until the commission tell him the offence he committed.

    “May I use this opportunity to express my gratitude to fellow countrymen, who stood by me in this period of my illegal arrest by the EFCC. Firstly, I want to thank Mr. President, His Excellency , President Muhammadu Buhari,  the various state governors and others who condemned my illegal arrest and fought to see my release…”

  • Budget: AGF gets N3.7b in 2017

    Budget: AGF gets N3.7b in 2017

    The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) has so far received N3.740 billion as budgetary disbursements this year.

    Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) Mr. Idris Ahmed made this disclosure during the 2018 budget defence of the Federal Ministry of Finance before the Senate yesterday in Abuja.

    Ahmed said so far,  in the budgetary releases made to OAGF this year include N2.836 billion for recurrent; N404 million for overheads and N400 million for capital projects.

    Before the releases were made, appropriation to the OAGF was set at N2.988 billion for recurrent; N664 million for overheads and N792 million for capital expenditures.

    Meanwhile the AGF has told members of the House Committee on Finance that for the budgeting process to be efficient, transparent and effective, both the Executive and Legislative arms of government needed to work in harmony.

    He spoke during a three-day retreat for House Committee members on Finance and key stakeholders.

    A statement from OAGF signed by its Director Information, Mrs. Kene Offie said Idris advocated for capacity building of the legislature which will have “far reaching positive effect on the nation’s economy because of their roles in timely passage of appropriation bills.”

    In her keynote address, Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun represented by Seye Sefunye, emphasised on the importance of synergy among the executive and legislature in ensuring a better understanding of the Federal Government’s reform initiatives.

    In a goodwill message by the Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike represented by his deputy, Dr, Mrs Ipalibo Banigo commended the Federal Government for its reform initiatives including the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the Integrated Payroll Information System (IPPIS) which has helped effective cash management.

    She noted that there is need for improvement in budget execution and “hopes the retreat would address issues like this including the twin issue of transparency and accountability.”

     

  • Boko Haram: LG Chairmen ask court to void approval for $1bn

    Boko Haram: LG Chairmen ask court to void approval for $1bn

    Sixteen Local Government Chairmen in Ekiti State have asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to void the approval given for the Federal Government to withdraw $1billion from the Excess Crude Account of the Federation for the prosecution of its fight against Boko Haram.

    Their request is contained in a suit they filed, listing the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the 36 state Governors and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission as defendants.

    The Chairmen, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1264/17, want the court to restrain the Federal Government, the 36 state Governors and their agents from giving effect to the appropriation and/ or approval of appropriation of  $1b or any other sum, from the Excess Crude Account of the Federation, as contained in the decision made on December 15, 2017 unless and by means of statutory allocation by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

    They also want the court to declare that the approval of $1b by the 36 state Governors to purportedly execute the constitutional duty of the Federal government, which has been sufficiently funded from the Federation Account, without the their consent is ultra vires, unlawful, null and void.

    They equally want an order of court declaring that in the discharge of its constitutional duty to safeguard the security and territorial integrity of Nigeria, the Federal Government of Nigeria, being the 1st defendant’s principal (AGF), must be funded in accordance with its Appropriation Act and by means of due accruals from the Federation account only.

    The plaintiffs want the court to declare  that the 1st -37 defendants’ appropriation and /or approval of appropriation of the sum of $1 from the Excess Crude Account of the federation made at the National Economic Council meeting of December 12, 2017 without regard to the consent of the 38th defendant (the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission), the plaintiffs; and the due appropriation of the various states’ Houses of Assembly, is unconstitutional, unlawful and of no effect whatsoever.

    They equally want a declaration that they are entitled to full share of all revenue accrued and accruable to the Federation Account and the Federation Excess Crude Account or any other Account whatsoever operated by and for the Federation of Nigeria, including the sum of $1,000,000,000 (which was purportedly approved for the expenditure of the Federal Government by the 1st-37th defendants at the 83rd, National Economic Council meeting of December 15, 2017, in accordance with section 162 of the 1999 constitution and the provisions of Allocation of Revenue (Federation Account) Act.

    The plaintiffs raised some questions for the court’s determination. They include:

    *Whether by the provisions of sections 153 (1) (h), 162 and paragraph 18, part 1 of the third schedule to the 1999 constitution, the 1st -37th defendants can lawfully appropriate and or approve the appropriation of funds in the excess crude account of the federation of Nigeria, without affecting, reducing or obliterating the plaintiffs’ lawful share of proceeds from the federation accounts.

    *Whether the 2nd defendant can lawfully appropriate and /or approve the appropriation of funds in the excess crude account of the federation of Nigeria, without the consent and /or consultation of the plaintiffs.

    *Whether in the discharge of the federal government’s constitutional duty of safeguarding the security and territorial integrity of Nigeria, (as mandated by section 217 of the 1999 constitution, the Federal government can lawfully resort to funding other than by means of its Appropriation Act.?

    The plaintiffs are: Deji Ogunsakin (Ado LGA); Bola Alonge (Ikere LGA); Lanrewaju Omolase (Ekiti South West LGA); Dapo Olagunju (Irepodun/Ifeelodun LGA); Samuel Adeniyi (Ekiti East LGA); Olumide Falade (Ise/Orun LGA); Sade Akinrinmola (Gbonyin LGA); Tayo Ogundare (Oye LGA); Chief Ayodeji Arogbodo (Ido/Osi LGA) and Taiwo Oguntuase (Emure LGA).

    Others are Kolawole Omotunde (Ekiti West LGA); Bolaji Jeje (Efon LGA); Adesola Adeyanju (Ikole LGA); Ganiyu Bakare (Ilejemele LGA); Adeniyi Adebayo (Moba LGA) and Abiodun Dada (Ijero LGA).

  • Pension fraud: AGF seeks Maina’s arrest

    •Minister urges dismissal of suit challenging bench warrant

    Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation ( AGF ) Abubakar Malami (SAN) has asked a Federal High Court in Kaduna to declined jurisdiction over a suit by embattled former chairman of the Presidential Pension Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, challenging the arrest warrant issued against him by an Abuja court.

    Malami urged the court to dismiss the suit and allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the government agency that got the arrest warrant, to proceed with Maina’s arrest and prosecution.

    The AGF told the court that granting any of the reliefs sought in the suit by Maina will do incalculable and permanent damages to the nation’s fight against corruption as well as reverse all gains made so far.

    Malami spoke in court processes he filed in response to the suit filed by Maina. The suit has the EFCC, AGF, Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives as respondents.

    It basically challenges the legitimacy of the arrest warrant got against him by the EFCC and the commission’s decision to declare him wanted based on the said order issued by a Magistrate’s Court in Abuja.

    It is Maina’s contention that the EFCC was an illegal body, on the grounds that  law setting it up – the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 – was an illegal legislation, the amendment of its principal Act having not been allegedly effected by the National Assembly.

    He claimed that the principal Act – the EFCC Act 2002 – was amended as EFCC Act 2004 unilaterally by then President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    He argued that since the President lacked the constitutional powers to unilaterally alter any law made by the legislature, the EFCC Act 2004, allegedly altered by President Obasanjo, becomes illegal and void and on which the EFCC cannot rely to act, including declaring him wanted.

    Maina, among others, urged the court, in his originating summons, “to hold that the plaintiff (he) cannot be declared wanted or arrested by any government agency invoking the powers of the EFCC Act 2004 for the same (the law) being an illegal enactment”.

    However, the AGF, in his counter affidavit, argued that “since a court of law cannot shield any person from arrest, investigation and possible prosecution, the plaintiff (Maina) cannot claim to have any legal right in an effort to stop any subsequent arrest, investigation and prosecution”.

    Malami faulted Maina’s claim about the enactment of the EFCC Act 2004, insisting that it was validly passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly.

    He challenged the competence of the suit in an objection he filed.

    He urged the court to decline jurisdiction because the suit was wrongly commenced.

    The AGF also described the suit as an abuse of court process on the grounds that Maina had filed a similar suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Further proceedings will resume in the case on January 15, 2018.

  • Pension fraud: AGF seeks arrest, prosecution of Maina

    Pension fraud: AGF seeks arrest, prosecution of Maina

    •Minister urges dismissal of suit challenging bench warrant

    Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN) has asked a Federal High Court in Kaduna to declined jurisdiction over a suit by embattled former chairman of the Presidential Pension Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, challenging the arrest warrant issued against him by an Abuja court.

    Malami urged the court to dismiss the suit and allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the government agency that got the arrest warrant, to proceed with Maina’s arrest and prosecution.

    The AGF told the court that granting any of the reliefs sought in the suit by Maina will do incalculable and permanent damages to the nation’s fight against corruption as well as reverse all gains made so far.

    Malami spoke in court processes he filed in response to the suit filed by Maina. The suit has the EFCC, AGF, Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives as respondents.

    It basically challenges the legitimacy of the arrest warrant got against him by the EFCC and the commission’s decision to declare him wanted based on the said order issued by a Magistrate’s Court in Abuja.

    It is Maina’s contention that the EFCC was an illegal body, on the grounds that  law setting it up – the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 – was an illegal legislation, the amendment of its principal Act having not been allegedly effected by the National Assembly.

    He claimed that the principal Act – the EFCC Act 2002 – was amended as EFCC Act 2004 unilaterally by then President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    He argued that since the President lacked the constitutional powers to unilaterally alter any law made by the legislature, the EFCC Act 2004, allegedly altered by President Obasanjo, becomes illegal and void and on which the EFCC cannot rely to act, including declaring him wanted.

    Maina, among others, urged the court, in his originating summons, “to hold that the plaintiff (he) cannot be declared wanted or arrested by any government agency invoking the powers of the EFCC Act 2004 for the same (the law) being an illegal enactment”.

    However, the AGF, in his counter affidavit, argued that “since a court of law cannot shield any person from arrest, investigation and possible prosecution, the plaintiff (Maina) cannot claim to have any legal right in an effort to stop any subsequent arrest, investigation and prosecution”.

    Malami faulted Maina’s claim about the enactment of the EFCC Act 2004, insisting that it was validly passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly.

    He challenged the competence of the suit in an objection he filed.

    He urged the court to decline jurisdiction because the suit was wrongly commenced.

    The AGF also described the suit as an abuse of court process on the grounds that Maina had filed a similar suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Further proceedings will resume in the case on January 15, 2018.

     

  • Maina: AGF has case to answer

    •President Buhari must get to the bottom of the pension fund scandal 

    The handling of the abscondment, suspension, reinstatement, promotion and eventual dismissal of the erstwhile chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reform, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina, has exposed how some of our public servants act contrary to the public interest. The man in the eye of the storm had been suspended since 2013 and consequently declared wanted at the local and international levels.

    It is shocking that despite the official steps taken on the matter, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Alhaji Abubakar Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), held a meeting in the United Arabs Emirate with the fugitive whose case was well known to him. Asked to explain why he took the odd step, the AGF could only say he did so after consulting the Director- General of the Department of State Security (DSS), Mallam Lawal Daura.

    We find the excuse too lame to be acceptable. What role has the DSS to play in the matter? Why should the Chief Law Officer of the country be seen in the company of a man accused of mismanaging billions of Naira recovered from looters of the treasury? This is another proof that Mr. Malami is unsuitable for the office he holds.

    Yet, it is another challenge to the Buhari administration. President Muhammadu Buhari must act to reignite the confidence of Nigerians in his ability to steer the ship of the nation. A number of questions have been raised in the National Assembly’s enquiry process. Many public officers have been invited to answer questions or shed light on the circumstances that gave rise to the conundrum.

    Although the permanent secretary of the Interior ministry finally took responsibility for Maina’s reinstatement, he should be made to say more on the motives and the collaboration he apparently received from other officials. His minister, Lt. Gen. Abdulrasheed Dambazzau, who has pleaded ignorance of the malfeasance, should not be allowed to merely wash his hands off like Pontius Pilate. For someone who retired as a General in the army and holds a doctorate degree in Law, the minister, as Chief Executive of the ministry, could convince no one that he had no knowledge of activities of officials under his watch. Otherwise, he would be pleading incompetence.

    Did Mr. Maina’s lawyer lie when he claimed his client had been receiving his salary since the infamous recall? Or, were the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, lying when they said he had been removed from the payroll since 2013? Could it be that some people criminally devised other means of funneling state funds to the said Mr. Maina? No stones should be left unturned in getting to the root of the matter.

    The Head of Service and Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, too, should be further grilled on what they did or failed to do in getting standards upheld. It has been established that the AGF wrote thrice querying or directing the officers on the matter, but, as professionals saddled with applying standards in such matters, it was not enough that they received directives from the AGF. Even if Mr. Maina had been unfairly suspended and the arrest warrant by the Senate that necessitated the commencement of disciplinary procedure against him had been voided by a court of law, there is still an established procedure to recall an errant officer that was set aside in the instant case.

    But, in all this, the officer who could not claim to have acted above board is the AGF. He acted ultra vires in Mr. Maina’s reinstatement. He should have restricted himself to what the judge said – the Senate did not follow established procedure in summoning Mr. Maina. That had nothing to do with other issues that necessitated the suspension. In any case, who ordered the reported promotion and payment of arrears of his salaries? These questions have not been answered whether before the Senate or the House of Representatives.

    We agree with the senators who have called for a deeper look into the 670 property that Mr Maina claims he recovered and passed on to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). While the commission has denied, the searchlight should be beamed into it with a view to determining the veracity or otherwise of the allegation. We call on the President to act expeditiously on the matter and convince the public that he remains committed to his anti- corruption war.

  • Maina: ‘AGF, HOS didn’t inform Dambazzau’ of reinstatement

    Maina: ‘AGF, HOS didn’t inform Dambazzau’ of reinstatement

    The row over the dismissed Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, deepened yesterday, following fresh revelation that Minister of Interior Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau was never briefed about Maina’s recall.

    Dambazzau was not even aware that Maina was in his ministry until a crisis broke out on the latter.

    Also, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winfred Oyo-Ita, did not engage Dambazzau at any point on the controversy surrounding Maina’s reinstatement.

    It was learnt that Dambazzau got to know of Maina’s recall and presence in the ministry in Vienna, Austria, when the crisis over his reinstatement erupted.

    All the correspondences on Maina were shared by the Office of the AGF, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Abubakar Magaji.

    These facts are contained in some documents obtained by The Nation against the backdrop of the unending controversy on Maina.

    There were indications that the fact sheets have been made available to the Presidency to put Dambazzau’s position in perspective.

    Excerpts from one of the sheets read:  “Maina was serving the Ministry of Interior before he was made  the Chairman of the Pension Task Force. During the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, it was the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee that sacked him. The Senior Staff Committee has representations from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Federal Civil service Commission.

    “Following his sack and litigation, he went back to the Senior Staff Committee for a reconsideration. The minister had no input at any level on how Maina was reinstated because administrative issues / bureaucracy are handled by the Permanent Secretary.

    “The issues of appointment, promotion and disciplinary matters are under the supervision of the Permanent Secretary through the appropriate civil service committees. This is what obtains in all ministries, where ministers do not play any role or interfere in bureaucratic process.

    “There is no direct link between the office of a minister and the OHCSF. The Permanent Secretary in each ministry relates with OHCSF.”

    On the reinstatement of Maina, another fact-sheet said: “”The Minister of Interior  had nothing to do with it because it is not within his purview. Neither the AGF/ Minister of Justice nor the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation brought Maina’s reinstatement to the Minister of Interior. In spite of the fact that ministers meet every Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council meeting,  none of them whispered that there was a case involving Maina. These facts can be verified.

    “The Minister of Interior became aware of the reinstatement of Maina when he was in Vienna, Austria following controversy on the exercise.

    “Findings by the minister confirmed that Maina was reinstated and came back to the Ministry of Interior towards the end of September. The minister was not aware of his presence until the issue  of Maina’s reinstatement became public knowledge.”

    As at press time, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) was still searching for Maina.

    Maina has been arraigned with  a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye, and two others before the court  for alleged N2 billion Pension funds allegedly mismanaged for biometric contracts.

    Others standing trial in the case, which began on July 10, 2015, are Osarenkhoe Afe and Fredrick HamiltonbGlobal Services Limited.

    The suspects are facing a 24-count charge bordering on procurement fraud and obtaining by false pretence. Neither Maina nor Oronsaye has been discharged.

    Oronsaye and two others had pleaded not guilty to the charge. Maina had been on the run until he resurfaced through bush path to resume duties.

  • Lawyer to AGF: prove Falana bought Abuja home, or…

    Lawyer to AGF: prove Falana bought Abuja home, or…

    Human rights lawyer Morakinyo Ogele has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to produce evidence that Lagos lawyer Femi Falana bought a N1 billion property in Abuja with the proceed of crime.

    Ogele berated Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose for allegedly attempting to blackmail Falana on the controversy without producing any proof.

    The lawyer and activists,who spoke yesterday with The Nation in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, averred that Fayose’s attack on Falana cannot be sustained because there was no evidence that the Lagos lawyer bought a house allegedly recovered from looters.

    The National Coordinator of Ekiti Redemption Group (ERG) criticised Malami for allegedly rushing to the press without producing any evidence linking Falana to the property.

    Ogele said: “Before rushing to the press, the Honourable AGF should have conducted a search at the Land Registry to identify the owner of the house in question.

    “It is not enough to say Falana bought a house without meeting the requirements; that is the search and documents of the sale. It is very sick of Fayose to be attacking Falana on an issue he knows very little or nothing about.

    “This is a governor who has been indicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS). It is usual for Fayose to launch rabid attacks on respected personalities in the country.

    “Fayose had attacked eminent personalities, like President Muhammadu Buhari, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Olabode George, among others. I think it is now the turn of Femi Falana (SAN). I know by tomorrow, it will be the turn of another prominent Nigerian.

    “I am giving the AGF a seven-day ultimatum to produce the documents for the sale of the house in question and the search (conducted at the Land Registry), showing the name of Femi Falana.

    “If not, I will not hesitate to drag the Honourable AGF to court for feeding the nation with lies…”

  • ‘SEC director’s murder’:Family queries AGF’s plan to substitute prosecutor

    ‘SEC director’s murder’:Family queries AGF’s plan to substitute prosecutor

    Why would Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN) seek to change the prosecuting lawyer in a murder case simply because the defence has expressed discomfort about the way the prosecution was conducting its case?

    This forms the plank of a query raised by relatives of a deceased Director of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mrs. Louisa Amenaghawon Eni Umukoro, whose widower, Charles Eni Umukoro, is being tried for being behind her death.

    Charles, said to be an ex-Deputy Chairman of Sapele Local Government Area in Delta State, was arraigned before Justice Mary Anne Anenih of the High Court of the Federal Capital territory (FCT), Maitama in May, by the police on a one-count charge of culpable homicide, which was filed in the name of the Inspector General (IG).

    The prosecution alleged that Charles caused the death of his late wife by “hitting her on the head, which caused internal haemorrhage, with the knowledge that her death would be the probable consequence”.

    It produced an autopsy report from the National Hospital, Abuja, which disclosed that the deceased died on April 21, 2016, from “subdural haemorrhage” as a result of two bruises on both sides of her neck.

    The defendant denied the allegation by pleading not guilty, and said the injuries that led to his wife’s death resulted from “domestic accident”.

    The case had proceeded unhindered, with a private lawyer engaged by the IG, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), prosecuting until November 7, when a lawyer, A.B. Mamman, emerged in the proceedings, claiming to be from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

    Mamman said he had been instructed to take over the prosecution.

    An infuriated Okutepa urged the court to disregard the information from Mamman.

    He said he was perturbed that the AGF decided to take over the case upon a petition by the defence lawyer. He said the defence failed to avail him with a copy of the petition on which the AGF acted.

    The trial judge has adjourned to December 5 to take a position.

    But the deceased’s relatives have expressed surprise at the turn of event and the role the AGF has assumed in the trial of a man accused of murdering their sister.

    Addressing a news conference in Abuja on Friday, the deceased’s senior brother, Nosa Ukponwan, an engineer, said the relatives were worried about the role of the AGF in the case. He accused the defence lawyer of being behind the scheming to frustrate the trial.

    Ukponwan, who said the complainants were comfortable with Okutepa as the prosecuting lawyer, urged the AGF not to lend his office in support of some dubious minds bent on frustrating Charles’ trial in relation to their sister’s death.

    He said: “However, we are encouraged by the person and capacity of the AGF to critically examine the facts of the case. We have no doubt that the AGF will, at the end of the day, direct that Mr. Okutepa (SAN), who is a seasoned prosecutor, proceeds with the prosecution of the matter.”