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Tag: Attorney General of the Federation (AGF)

  • NIS confirms prosecution’s claim that Justice Ngwuta had two passports

    NIS confirms prosecution’s claim that Justice Ngwuta had two passports

    The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) Friday confirmed allegation by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) that Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court had two standard Nigerian international passports when he was arrested in October last year.

    A senior NIS official, Tanko Nuhu Kutana made the confirmation yesterday while testifying as the 3rd prosecution witness in Justice Ngwuta’s trial before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Justice Ngwuta is being tried on a 12-count charge, in which he was accused of committing sundry offences, including money laundering and possession of two valid Nigerian standard passports (contrary to Section 10 (1) (a) of the Immigration Act 2015).

    Kutana, formerly of the Document Fraud Unit (the Forensic Investigative arm) of the NIS, but now serving in Benue command, said he was invited by the office of the AGF to investigate how Justice Ngwuta came about two passports at the same time.

    The witness, who was led in evidence by prosecution lawyer, Mrs. Olufemi Fatunde, said he got involved with the case when the office of the AGF invited him to help ascertain how the defendant came about having two passports at a time.

    He said: “In the process of examining the passports, I found out that they were validly issued passports. Two of the passports, which were standard passports, drew my attention because they were both valid and contained two valid US visas, which each one having one.”

    The witness said he later returned to his office to retrieve the file containing information on how both passports were issued.

    He said he found that the one issued in November 2012 to Justice Ngwuta had earlier been reported lost by the judge through a letter dated April 5, 2016 written by the Supreme Court to the NIS.

    “The said letter reported the loss and requested for a replacement of the lost passport. Attached to the letter was a sworn affidavit sworn to by his Lordship, Justice Ngwuta at the Supreme Court, stating his loss of the said passport.

    “There was also an extract from the police’s diary from the police station domicile at the Supreme Court. It was based on the letter, the affidavit and police extract that he was re-issued another passport on 20th April, 2016.

    “I photocopied the entire file, made sure it was certified and took them to the office of the AGF. When I got back to the AGF’s office, I explained how the judge came about having two standard passports,” he said.

    Kutana identified the first of the passports as the one with number: AO4389985, issued November 29, 2012 to expire on November 28, 2017, containing a valid American visa at page 11 of the visa page, issued on August 26, 2015 to expire on August 24 2017.

    He said the one issued in replacement has the number: AO7274634, issued on April 20, 2016, to expire on April 19, 2021. He said it contained a valid American visa issued on 27 September 2016 to expire on 25 September 2018 and a British visa, issued on June 2, 2016, to expire on June 2, 2018.

    The prosecution later tendered both passports, the letter from the Supreme Court and the police extract, which the court admitted in evidence.

    Kutana said the two passports were still valid and that the defendant failed to report to the NIS that he recovered the one he reported missing, which would have allowed the NIS to formally cancel one of the passports.

    “If he had reported that the passport was found, we would have endorsed ‘cancelled’ on the other one that was issued in the place of the lost one,” the witness said.

    Under cross-examination by defence lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN), the witness said although the passports, being electronic one could be cancelled from the NIS data base at the time it was reported missing, that did stop its physical usage for travelling and other purposes.

    He said there was no evidence that the defendant used both passports interchangeably.

    “What was improper was that when he (Justice Ngwuta) found the old passport, he did not return it to be cancelled manually,” he said.

    The witness agreed with Agabi that there is no law limiting the time to report a found missing passport.

    The trial resumes on May 16.

     

  • 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”.

  • Reps begin move to separate AGF from Justice Minister’s office

    Reps begin move to separate AGF from Justice Minister’s office

    …Bill scales second reading

    The House of Representatives has began a constitutional process of separating the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Attorney General of State from the office of Minister or Commissioner of Justice.

    The lawmakers said the powers of the AG, who is the chief law officer of the Federation or the State were too enormous for the officer to be burdened with the functions of the Justice Ministry.

    As a result, a bill for an Act to alter the constitution to introduce the office of the Attorney General of the Federation distinct and separate from the Minister of Justice successfully scaled second reading on the floor of the House Tuesday.

    Sponsor of the bill, Muhammad Monguno (APC, Borno) cited Section 150 of the constitution that created the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation ( AGF ) and Minister of Justice while Section 159 created the office of the Attorney General of State and Commissioner for Justice.

    “From these arrangements, these two offices merged together and being operated by one person.

    “The AG is the chief law officer whether of the Federation or the State and advises the government on matters relating to law generally, whereas, the office of the Minister or Commissioner of Justice is political in nature if read alongside other Ministers or Commissioners.

    “The office of the Attorney General is such that should be seen to be independent and not subjected to some political consideration and the appointment should be seen to meet some standards in legal profession.

    “The fact being that the Attorney General performs some quasi-judicial functions hence the need for the office to be separated from the office of the Minister or Commissioner for Justice.

    “The Attorney General being the Chief Law officer is empowered in Sections 150 and 195 of the constitution respectively to enter nolle proseque.
    “The power can only be exercised if the office is free from any political interference.

    “The separation of power would further allow for effective separationof power, as the two offices would be given the necessary environment to function optimally,” Monguno said.

    The bill.was refered to the special ad hoc Committee on the review of the constitution.

  • 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.

     

  • 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.
  • Saraki in fresh move against CCB trial

    Saraki in fresh move against CCB trial

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki has initiated a fresh move aimed at neutralising his trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    This time, he has filed a new suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking among others, to restrain CCT and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) (who are listed as respondents) from proceeding with his trial.

    The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/117/2016 was filed by one Timipa Jenkins Okponipere, who claimed to be “suing as attorney to Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki”).

    The new suit, a fundamental rights enforcement application, is one of the various attempts by the Senate President to stop his trial before the CCT for alleged corruption and false assets declaration.

    Saraki had challenged his trial up to the Supreme Court and lost. He has also lost past fundamental rights enforcement applications, the last being the one dismissed on April 15, 2016 by Justice Adamu Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    In the new suit, the applicant seeks 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 seeks 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 Sraki, 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 Sarki from attaining public office. If truly the respondents were proactive institutions of government, they ought to have prosecuted Senator Sarki 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, has 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.

    When the case up for mention on September 29 before Justice Gabriel Kolawole, neither Okponipere nor his lawyer was in court, following which the judge adjourned it to November 16 for hearing.

    Meanwhile, the CCT will tomorrow deliver ruling on an application by Saraki seeking that the tribunal Chairman, Danladi Umar withdraws from his trial on the grounds that Umar made some remarks in the course of the trial, which Saraki considered prejudicial to his case.

    Saraki’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN) – a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) – had in an application filed on June 13, 2016, accused Umar of making remarks that purportedly betrayed his bias against his client during the June 7, 2016 proceedings.

    Umar had, while expressing his displeasure at the delay tactics employed by Saraki’s legal team (comprising over 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria) warned that the delay strategy would not “reduce the consequences the defendant will meet in this tribunal at the end of the trial.”

    At the hearing of the application on June 21, Saraki’s lawyer argued that by his statement, the tribunal Chairman had already concluded that his client would be guilty and thereby exposed to “consequences.”

    In a counter argument, prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) faulted Saraki’s lawyers’ interpretation of the tribunal Chairman’s remarks.

    “That I am aware that the Chairman of this honourable tribunal on the said June 7, 2016 stated clearly that his mind is open to do justice to this matter and that he has no prejudice against any of the parties.

    “The statement allegedly made by the Chairman of the honourable tribunal was quoted out of context without referring to the statement made by the Chairman to the effect that his mind was open to do justice to this matter and that he has no prejudice against any of the parties,” Jacobs said.

  • 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.”

     

  • Forgery case: Melaye alleges attempts to tamper with evidence

    Forgery case: Melaye alleges attempts to tamper with evidence

    The Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, yesterday claimed that unnamed individuals have concluded plans to doctor the Police report on the investigation of allegation of forgery leveled against the leadership of the Senate.

    Melaye who is also Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), alleged that the plan was aimed to indict Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

    The Kogi West Senator in a statement circulated in Abuja claimed that “those behind the sinister plot are scheming to forge a police report different from the one signed by DIG Dan’Azumi J. Doma in other to justify and prove a case of forgery against the Senate President and the Deputy president.”

    He said it was necessary for members of the public to be aware of the ‘unlawful plan’.

    He said, “We have our own sources and we have been reliably informed that the prosecution having realised that there is a big hole in their case against Saraki and Ekweremadu who were not mentioned in the police report, are now trying to doctor the report and include the names of both presiding officers of the Senate

    “We are aware of that development and we want members of the public to know the level of desperation that these people are ready to go to nail the Senate President and his Deputy.

    “It is because of this plan that they refused to include the police report in the process they filed in court.

    “We have said it repeatedly that the government and specifically, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami has no case against our presiding officers.

    “They filed the case to distract the two men, embarrass them, force a change of leadership and eventually cow the Senate, in particular, and the National Assembly, in general.

    “The forgery case is the height of desperation by some elements to bring down the legislature. Malami has a personal agenda to achieve an objective for which he has been hired as a counsel by a few aggrieved Senators.

    “Now, a court has affirmed our claim that he is abusing his office and that there is a conflict of interest involving him.

    “The said police report is already in the public space. The media has published it verbatim. We will be watching them to see how they will smuggle Saraki and Ekweremadu’s names into it.

    “This is the height of desperation and we will continue to monitor developments on it. It is clear those who initiated this forgery suit against the leadership of the Senate know that they have made a mistake. They should cut their losses and discontinue the error.

    “To think that they will now use forgery to justify a false case of forgery, further their abuse of the court process as well as abuse of office and think we will be looking at them will not be possible.

    “We will call on the courts to continue to play their role as the last resort for every man who wants justice at all times and in all circumstances.”

  • FG promises to address causes of insurgency, militancy

    FG promises to address causes of insurgency, militancy

    Federal government Tuesday said it was working unearth the root causes of insurgency and agitation in parts of the country with a view to addressing them.

    The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) gave this assurance Tuesday  while addressing aggrieved lawyers, who were in his office to protest what they termed the menace of Boko Haram.

    Malami said the Fed Government was considering constituting a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate how insurgency found its way into the country.

    About 100 lawyers under the umbrella body of Lawyers United for Equality and Human Rights Advocacy (LUEHRA) protested to the office of the AGF to demand the investigation and prosecution of person found to have been sponsoring insurgency in the country.

    Malami was represented by the Director in charge of General Services in the Ministry, Mrs. Lola Uket. She assured the protesting lawyers that the minister will act on their demands.

    “You have made your demands and I am sure the minister will act and act very fast to meet your demands. All will be addressed. I believe you gave a time frame in your demand and I am sure they will all be met.

    “Your demands have not been met before now not because of negligence on the part of the minister but because of certain circumstances.

    “Let us be patient with them because they are also learned men like you. Let us give them the benefit of the doubt that something will be done,”she said‎.

    The lawyers in their position paper asked the minister to ensure the investigation and prosecution of sponsors of the Islamic Terrorist group, Boko Haram and ensure their prosecution at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

    In the paper, addressed to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, a senior advocate, the lawyers asked the FG to avoid the grave mistake of government in the past that led to the intermittent resurrection of Niger Delta militancy.

    The group’s leader, Samson Esekhaigbe and Publicity Secretary, Nnena Okereke said recent frightening developments in the country were capable of causing serious political upheavals.

    Esekhaigbe said the developments were pointers to the fact that the top politicians in Borno State who created Boko Haram are still in touch with their “foot soldiers”.

    “We are afraid that the senseless killings by this animalistic bunch will not stop unless their sponsors are identified, tried in our local courts or dragged to the International Criminal Court at The Hague and accordingly imprisoned for facilitating heinous crimes against humanity. This is the only way that enduring peace would return to the North and Nigeria in general.

    “A situation whereby no less than 10,000 persons have been killed in various brutal activities spearheaded by the group is alarming”.

    The lawyers said it is their duty as a group of refined legal minds to fight and preserve Nigeria- the country that gave every Nigerian a home and heritage.

    The group condoled with those who lost their loved ones to insurgencies and insisted that the time to end Boko Haram is now otherwise the innocent blood spilt over the years will hunt us.

    The group is an umbrella body of pro-democracy, concerned and patriotic Nigerian lawyers committed to true democratic principles bringing to cognizance equity, fairness and respect for human rights and the rule of law in line with the change mantra of the present administration.