Tag: Attorney General of the Federation

14Sep By dthataNo Comments

News

NBA Rules: Lawyers Sign Petition To Strip Malami Of SAN Title

Over 380 lawyers have signed a petition demanding that the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, be stripped of the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria. The petition, started on Change.org by Izu Aniagu, is titled, “Sign to strip Nigeria’s AGF, Abubakar Malami the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria”. Aniagu predicated his petition on the recent unilateral amendments to the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2007 by Malami. He said the unilateral amendment was a threat to the rule of law, coupled with Malami’s other alleged wrongdoings, such as “disobedience to court orders, to his lacklustre prosecution, to his outright failure to prosecute, to allegations of corruption and bias against his person, to the usurpation of office, to shielding of ...

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13Sep By dthataNo Comments

News

Malami Lacks Unilateral Power To Amend Lawyers’ Professional Conduct – Akpata

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Olumide Akpata, has said it is impossible for the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abukakar Malami (SAN), to single-handedly amend the 2007 Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners. Akpata said this in response to reports that Malami had amended the RPC to the effect that the NBA stamp and seal was no longer a requirement to authenticate papers filed by lawyers in court. The sale of the stamp and seal is a major source of revenue for the NBA as lawyers cannot validly file court papers without affixing the stamp and seal. Akpata faulted Malami’s single-handed amendments to the RPC in a press release on Sunday, titled, “Statement by NBA President on the Purported Amendment to the Rules of Professional Conduct for L...

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12Sep By dthataNo Comments

Politics

PDP Reps Sue Malami, Lai Mohammed, NBC Over New Broadcasting Code

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party caucus in the House of Representatives have sued the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN; Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed; and the National Broadcasting Commission over the 6th National Broadcast Code recently released by the National Broadcasting Commission. Chairman of the PDP caucus, Mr Kingsley Chinda, told Saturday PUNCH on Thursday that the lawmakers would also sue the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.); Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Sen Chris Ngige; Minister of State, Festus Keyamo, SAN; and the National Directorate of Employment over the recruitment of 774,000 for the Federal Government’s Public Works Scheme. Chinda said, “We cautioned that ...

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5Sep By dthataNo Comments

Politics

P&ID Scandal: British Court Judgement Shows Malami Lied Against Magu

Contrary to the claim of the attorney general of the federation, Abubakar Malami, that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is partly to blame for Nigeria’s failure to originally secure a stay of execution of the award of $8.9 billion (about N3.2 trillion) in favour of P&ID, details of Friday’s judgement by a British Commercial Court revealed that the EFCC’s investigation was instrumental to the favourable judgement obtained by the country. The Commercial Court granted Nigeria’s appeal for a stay of execution of the award of $8.9 billion (about N3.2 trillion) in favour of P&ID, a controversial British firm that secured a gas contract in Nigeria. On Friday, the Royal Courts of Justice Strand, London, WC2A 2LL presided over by Justice Ross Cranston said following...

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10Aug By dthataNo Comments

Politics

‘I Owned Lucrative Businesses’ — Malami Writes Buhari Over Corruption Allegation

Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, has written to President Muhammadu Buhari, denying the allegations of corruption levelled against him. A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) had asked the president to probe Malami over “14 high-profile corruption cases”. The CSOs listed “financial fraud” and “influence peddling” among the allegations levelled against the AGF, while calling for his resignation. Malami was also accused of “illegally” auctioning sea vessels holding crude oil seized by the federal government. Reacting to the allegations, Malami said he needed to write to the presidency in order to clear his name, and that he would also seek redress in court. According to Vanguard, the minister said in his letter ...

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19Jun By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Malami Writes PMB, Seeks Removal Of Magu; Accuses Him Of Diversion Of Recovered Loot

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), has recommend to President Muhammadu Buhari the sacking of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu. Malami, in a memorandum to the president, anchored his recommendation on several grounds “raging from diversion of recovered loot to insubordination and misconduct” by Magu, THISDAY has learnt. Multiple sources told THISDAY yesterday that Malami included a short list of three candidates for consideration to replace Magu. But Magu is fighting back and his supporters within the Presidency say ” removing Magu at this time when he has given muscle to Buhari’s anti-corruption fight would be a mistake.” “It is painful that the EFCC bos...

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11Jun By dthataNo Comments

News

Taraba Killings: Confessions Of Killer Soldiers Shielded From Trial By Malami

The curious decision of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, (SAN), to drop charges against 10 soldiers in the case involving an alleged Taraba State kidnapping kingpin, Bala Hamisu, could be described as a brazen attempt to make a mockery of the nation’s criminal justice system. Hamisu, popularly known as Wadume, had in his statement identified his accomplices, including 10 soldiers and two policemen. They are Captain Tijjani Balarabe; Staff Sgt. David Isaiah; Sgt. Ibrahim Mohammed; Corporal Bartholomew Obanye; Private Mohammed Nura; Lance Corporal Okorozie Gideon and Corporal Markus Michael. Others are L/Corporal Nvenaweimoeimi Akpagra; Staff Sgt. Abdullahi Adamu, and Private Ebele Emmanuel, ASP Aondona Iorbee, and one Ahmad Suleiman (aka...

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6May By dthataNo Comments

Politics

“I Deliberately Referred To Abacha Loot As “Abacha’s Assets” – Malami

Abubakar Malami SAN, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice has faulted those criticising him for describing the recently repatriated Abacha loots as ” Abacha assets. Malami in a statement said while the money was a loot, it automatically becomes an assets when it is returned to the federal government. “Attention of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been drawn to needless media hype relating to purported characterization of the recovered assets associated with former Head of State, General Sani Abacha as “Abacha Assets”. The office maintained that the choice of words was deliberate”. “It is to be noted that by way of antecedence that Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has been consi...

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27Jan By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Oyo LG Chairmen Defy Makinde, Resume With Heavy Security Backing

The sacked local government chairmen in Oyo State, on Monday, defied Governor Seyi Makinde and resumed to their respective local government secretariats amid tight security. Controversy trailed the administration of local governments in the state, following the immediate sack of the chairmen elected under former Governor Abiola Ajimobi, barely twenty-four hours after Governor Makinde’s swearing-in on May 29, 2019. In his bid to reconstitute the local government administration, Governor Makinde had in December 2019 appointed caretaker chairmen for LGAs and LCDAs to fill the void despite the various cases instituted by both parties. Reports from Ibarapa NorthEast LCDA, Lanlate, have it that Mr. Lanre Olaosegba resumed at the council secretariat with his councilors. Also, Barr. Da...

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27Jan By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Amotekun Proposed Law: Wale Fapohunda Says Personnel Will Have Powers To Arrest

Lagos, Ogun and Ekiti states are leading the drafting of model bills on the South-West security outfit, Operation Amotekun The Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Wale Fapohunda, who gave this indication in an interview with one of our correspondents on Sunday, also said operatives of Amotekun, would have the power to arrest suspected criminals. Fapohunda said this just as indications emerged on Sunday that the South-West attorneys general would on February 6 meet to harmonise positions of different states on the proposed Operation Amotekun bills. The Federal Government and the South-West governors had, at a meeting in Abuja on Thursday, resolved their differences on Operation Amotekun, which was launched in Ibadan on January 9 to address killings and kidnap...

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23Jan By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Amotekun: Malami Denies Outlawing Security Outfit, Claims Misinterpretation

Abubakr Malami, the Attorney-General of the Federation, on Thursday, denounced his earlier stance against the establishment of the Western Nigeria Security Outfit code-named Operation Amotekun which he had declared illegal. Malami whose condemnation whose anti-Amotekun remark had stirred up more knocks than nods on social media, has, however, claimed to have been misinterpreted by the governors of the six southwestern states and their sympathisers across the federation. Malami made a U-turn on his anti-Amotekun stance while addressing responding to a question during a chat on Radio Nigeria Abuja on Thursday morning where he explained: “I was misinterpreted on Operation Amotekun, I did not say it’s Illegal”. “I said the Operation Amotekun should be properly back by law, so if ...

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23Jan By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Juniad Muhammed Warns Of Imminent Civil War Over Amotekun

In this interview, Second Republic lawmaker and elder statesman, Junaid Muhammed, said Amotekun is politically motivated and a ploy for secession by the Southwest Recently, governors of Southwest states came together to set up a security outfit called Amotekun to check insecurity in their region. This comes as the national security architecture seems overwhelmed, but the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, said it is unconstitutional. What is your take? First and foremost, a line has been drawn among most conscientious and not reasonable Nigerians. A line has been drawn on the question of the desire or otherwise of what people call state police. The agitation for state police started from the Southwest. It was purely political; it had ...

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23Jan By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Amotekun: Afenifere Accuses Tinubu Of Doublespeak

Yoruba leaders and other stakeholders from the southwest yesterday flayed the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, over his comments on the region’s recently launched security outfit, Operation Amotekun. They accused him of speaking “from both sides of his mouth.” Tinubu yesterday, who broke his silence on the establishment of the outfit, declared support for it and described it as a laudable initiative. Tinubu in a statement he personally signed, titled, “The Public Discourse Over Amotekun”, called for dialogue in resolving the controversy over the initiative, saying the governors goofed by not carrying the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation along. He said the failure to involve the AGF was an unfortunate omission by the southwest gover...

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21Jan By dthataNo Comments

News

Police Take Over Amotekun Protest Venue In Lagos

Policemen, on Tuesday, barricaded the venue of the protest against the Federal Government’s position declaring the establishment of Operation Amotekun as illegal. Recall that the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, had in a statement, described the Western Nigeria Security network codenamed ‘Operation Amotekun’ as illegal. The protest, expected to hold at the Gani Fawehinmi Park, was organised by the Yoruba World Congress. It was tagged as “Amotekun Solidarity Walk”. The PUNCH‘s correspondent at the venue of the protest reported that over 20 police vans with armed policemen were present to prevent the group from accessing the park.

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20Jan By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Malami Asks Makinde To Dissolve LG Caretaker Chairmen

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) has directed the Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde to reverse himself over the dissolution of local government administration in the State. The directive was contained in a letter to the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State, Prof. Oyewo Oyelowo dated 14 January 2020. The letter marked HAGF/OYO/2020/Vol.I/I. was entitled, “Unconstitutionality of dissolution of elected local government councils and appointment of caretaker committee: the urgent need for compliance with extant judicial decisions” The AGF said, in view of the decision of the Supreme Court on the matter that is binding on all 36 States of the Federation, “the common practice by some State Gove...

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18Jan By dthataNo Comments

Politics

South-West Governors Move To Legalise Amotekun

Emboldened by the huge support from the people of the South West region in particular and across the states of the country in general, the South West governors have moved fast to give legal backing to the regional security outfit, codenamed Operation Amotekun which they launched on January 9 this year. This is just as the Nigeria military has vowed that it will not allow any individual or group to jeopardize the sovereignty and stability of Nigeria’s territorial integrity. The military told relevant stakeholders to join hands with the armed forces and intelligence agencies to ensure that Nigeria is secured and not to look for other methods likely to negate the national policy and Community Policing approved by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration. Meanwhile, Saturday Van...

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18Jan By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Buhari Asks Malami To Wade In As Saudi Places Nigerian Islamic Cleric On Death Row

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation, to handle the case of Ibrahim Ibrahim, a Nigerian cleric on death row in Saudi Arabia. Buhari gave the directive after Bello Mutawalle, governor of Zamfara, prevailed on him to see to the release of Ibrahim, an indigene of Zamfara. According to a statement by Zailani Bappa, media aide to Mutawalle, Ibrahim was wrongly placed on the death row for charges bothering on drug trafficking. “Governor Matawalle yesterday met with President Muhammadu Buhari and appealed on behalf of Ibrahim Ibrahim whose judgement was scheduled for next week, on charges of drug trafficking,” the statement read. “Ibrahim, an Islamic cleric, was wrongly arrested in Saudi Arabia and arraigned before the court b...

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16Jan By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Amotekun May Deprive Southwest Of 2023 Presidency – Miyetti Allah

Herdsmen under the umbrella of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore have warned Southwest governors to withdraw their support for Western Nigeria Security outfit, codenamed ‘Operation Amotekun’, adding that their continued support for Operation Amotekun may hurt the Southwest’s chances of getting the Presidency in 2023. The National Secretary of the group, Alhassan Saleh, said this during an interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday. Saleh said Miyetti Allah was disappointed in the South-West intelligentsia for supporting the outfit. He said, “This Amotekun scheme is political and is not the solution to the problem of insecurity. What the South-West governors should have done is to continue to push for state police. Where did they expect to get the funding from at a time some of them are...

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16Jan By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Amotekun Not Unconstitutional, Falana Tackles Malami

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has differed with the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), on the legality of the southwestern states’ joint security outfit, code-named ‘Amotekun’. Barely a week after the five South-West governors jointly inaugurated Amotekun for the security of the zone, the AGF, on Tuesday, issued a statement, declared the security out illegal and unconstitutional. Falana spoke in Lagos on Wednesday at the 16th Annual Gani Fawehinmi Lecture, with the theme, “Federalism and the Judiciary in Nigeria”. Falana, who was the programme moderator, described Malami’s position on Amotekun as discriminatory, noting that northern states were operating similar security outfits such as Hisbah and the Civilian Joint Task Force. Falana sa...

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16Jan By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Seyi Makinde Visits Obasanjo, Says AGF Lacks Power To Declare Amotekun Illegal

Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has said the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), lacks the power to declare the South West security outfit, Operation Amotekun, as illegal. Makinde said though the AGF may interpret and advise the President if there are legal issues, he is not empowered to make his own laws. He spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, during his visit to a former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Wednesday. The governor was accompanied by his Special Adviser on Security Matters and former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni; the Chairman, Advisory Council, Senator Hosea Agboola; and former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Chief Layiwola Olakojo, among other aides. Fielding questions...

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15Jan By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Why Is Amotekun Illegal & Hisbah Legal – South Leaders To Malami

The Southern and Middle Belt leaders have rejected the directive of Abubakar Malami SAN declaring Operation Amotekun as illegal, describing the statement as an abuse of office. In a statement signed by Yinka Odumakin (South-West); Gen CRU Iherike (South-East); Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-South) and Dr Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt), the leaders said the right to preserve one’s life cannot be under any exclusive list. “The attention of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has been drawn to the illegal diktat by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami SAN declaring Amotekun, the South-West security (not military or police) outfit illegal. We consider his action as an abuse of office to suppress the rights of federating units to secure themselves and ...

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14Jan By dthataNo Comments

Politics

FG Declares Operation Amotekun Illegal

Barely a few days after the inauguration of a security outfit known as Amotekun by South-West states, the Federal Government has declared the paramilitary outfit as illegal as it is not backed by any known law in the land. The Attorney General of the Federation made the feeling of the government known in a statement made available to Vanguard on Tuesday. In the statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Dr Umar Gwandu, the government said the issue of defence and security fell under the exclusive list and not with the state. The statement reads in part: “The setting up of the paramilitary organization called “Amotekun” is illegal and runs contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian l...

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3Jan By dthataNo Comments

Politics

We Were Right To Hold Sowore, Dasuki Despite Court Orders – Malami

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, says the regime of Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had the right to continually detain Sahara Reporters Publisher, Omoyele Sowore; and a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), despite court orders. Malami said this during a programme titled, ‘Good Morning Nigeria’ on NTA on Thursday.The minister said the constitution gives the government the right to appeal court orders to the level of the Supreme Court. He said during the process of applying for variation of court orders or appealing judgements, the enforcement of that court order can be delayed and this ought not to be termed as disobedience to court orders. When asked if this was what happened in the cases of Da...

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20Dec By dthataNo Comments

Politics

No Discrimination In Fight Against Corruption – AGF, Abubakar Malami

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami has debunked claims of the Buhari-led administration fighting a discriminatory fight against corruption.   Speaking in Abuja on Thursday December 19, Malami said he was impressed with the speedy way the judiciary handled election cases and also paid attention to high-profile cases.   He disclosed that 22 ex-governors are either under probe or on trial following the implementation of the whistle-blowing policy which has led to recovery of stolen assets in Nigeria.   Malami said;   “Our fight against corruption is total, comprehensive and dispassionate devoid of any political or ethnic sentiments or inclination. “One of the multiple institutions involved in t...

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19Dec By dthataNo Comments

Politics

‘I Was Never Summoned By The Federal High Court Over Sowore’s Continued Detention’ – Minister Of Justice, Abubakar Malami

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami said he was never summoned by the Federal High Court over the continued detention of Omoyele Sowore. According to Malami in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, on Wednesday night,  “the issues that surrounded the subject matter borders on the application filed by Sowore’s lawyer on the 15th day of November 2019. “The Court adjourned the matter to the 23rd day of January, 2020 for the hearing of the substantive matter. “Surprisingly, on Tuesday the 17th day of December, 2019, the Applicant’s Counsel adopted an ex-parte application filed on the 15th day of November, 2019 before Hon. Justice I E. Ekwo. “However, the Court, being aware of the fact that ...

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17Dec By dthataNo Comments

Politics

I Can’t Tell DSS To Release Sowore – Attorney General, Abubakar Malami

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on Monday, December 16th indicated that he could not ask the Department of State Service to release Omoyele Sowore from custody. The minister said in the statement that he could not take a unilateral decision on the release of Sowore without recourse to the court, where the ‘RevolutionNow’ protests convener and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, are being prosecuted on charges of treasonable felony, among others. This is contained in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr. Umar Gwandu, who stated that Malami was reacting to “the claim that a lawyer sent a letter to the AGF requesting the release of Mr. Sowore”. The statement appeared to be a veiled reference to the lette...

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13Dec By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Sowore: AGF Malami Orders DSS To Hands-Off Trial, Takes Over Case-file

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has ordered the Department of State Service, DSS, to hands-off the prosecution of detained pro-democracy activist and convener of RevolutionNow Protest, Omoyele Sowore. The AGF, in a statement that was made available to newsmen by his media aide, Dr Umar Gwandu, on Friday, said he directed the security agency to forward the case file in respect of charge pending against Sowore before the Federal High Court in Abuja, to his office. Malami further directed the Federal Ministry of Justice to immediately take over the prosecution of all charges against Sowore, in line with the provisions of Sections 150(1) and 174 (1) (a-c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). He said the Federal Government was...

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7Nov By dthataNo Comments

News

EFCC And ICPC Stripped Of Powers To Seize Assets In Corruption Cases

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other allied bodies have been stripped of the powers to seize assets of people being investigated and such powers transferred to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF). Hitherto, the EFCC had the powers to initiate non-conviction based forfeiture as was done in the case of the wife of a former President, Patience Jonathan. With the new directive, only the AGF can initiate seizure orders from the court. The directive was made public through a Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette, Vol. 106, No 163, entitled, “Asset Tracing, Recovery and Management Regulation 2019’’, dated Oct. 29, 2019. “All non-conviction based forfeiture shall be conducted by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation. “...

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22Sep By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Charges Against Sowore A Mockery Of Justice, End The Case Now – SERAP

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open letter to Mr Abukabar Malami, SAN, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, urging him to use his position “to without delay enter a nolle prosequi and discontinue the prosecution of the Convener of ‘RevolutionNow’ protest and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Mr Omoyele Sowore, and Olawale Bakare, also known as Mandate for apparently politically motivated charges of treason, fraud and ‘insulting President Muhammadu Buhari’.” SERAP said: “We urge you to use your role as a trustee of the public interest under section 174 of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) to end several of similar trumped-up cases going on in several states.” In the letter dated 21 September 2019 and signed by ...

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27Aug By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Court Summons Attorney General Of The Federation, EFCC Over Yari’s Property

The Federal High Court in Abuja has summoned the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to appear before it over plans to seize the property of the former governor of Zamfara, Abdulaziz Yari. Justice Nkeonye Maha gave the ruling on Monday after listening to arguments on a motion ex-parte by Yari’s lawyer, Mahmud Magaji. The motion ex-parte, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/948/2019, was brought pursuant to section 46(1) and (3) of the 1999 constitution and order 4 rule 3 and 4 of the fundamental rights (enforcement procedure) rules 2009. The AGF is the 1st respondent while the EFCC is the 2nd respondent in the suit. The judge also ordered that the respondents be served with the court processes within 48 hours. The case was adjou...

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18Jul By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Why Corruption Charges Against Me Were Withdrawn – Danjuma Goje

Danjuma Goje, lawmaker representing Gombe Central at the Senate has explained why corruption charges preferred against him by the federal government was withdrawn. Mr Goje whose trial has been going on since 2010 for looting over N5 billion when he held sway as governor of the state, saw the end in sight of the corruption charges against him after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari who asked him to shield his Senate Presidency ambition. Mr Buhari after a meeting with the former governor asked the latter to step down for the preferred candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) Ahmed Lawan for the top job. He did and days after, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) handed over the trial that has been going on for over eight years to the office of the Atto...

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27Feb By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Court Dismisses Certificate Suit Against Buhari

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has struck out the case seeking to disqualify President Muhammadu Buhari from the 2019 elections over circumstances surrounding his school certificate. BUHARI A lawyer, Lezina Amegua, had prayed the court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to disqualify the President, but the trial judge, Justice Ishaq Sani, struck out the case for lack of merit. Also joined as respondents in the suit were All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Attorney-General of the Federation. Amegua had sought an order of the court for the President to produce his original school certificate or its equivalent and master sheet of the said results before the court and for INEC to also tender receipt of its record of same ...

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21Feb By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Zamfara, Rivers APC Remain Banned – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission says the All Progressives Congress will not be allowed to participate in any elections except the Presidential poll in Rivers and Zamfara States. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, said this at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday. Yakubu’s position comes despite a letter written to INEC by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), asking the commission to recognise the APC in Zamfara. The APC in Zamfara and Rivers states had threatened that they would not allow any elections to take place in their states if they were not allowed to participate in the governorship, National Assembly and state assembly elections.

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21Feb By dthataNo Comments

Politics

How I Paid $30,000 Into Onnoghen’s Domiciliary Account, Agi Opens Up

AS controversies continue to trail the inability of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, in declaring his complete bank account in his assets declaration form he submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau upon his appointment as CJN, a lawyer and former Peoples Democractic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Cross River State, Joe Agi, SAN has said he particularly deposited the sum of $30,000 for Onnoghen. This was even as he alleged that the Attorney General of the Federation, Mallam Abubakar Malami, and those he described as a cabal were after him because he (Agi) did not only expose them but also secured the refund of the fraudulent deduction of $3,18 billion from local governments account by the Federal Government in the Paris Club fund. His explanatio...

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14Feb By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Zamfara APC: We’ve Not Received Any Letter From AGF —INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday said it had not received a letter purportedly written by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), demanding a postponement of the Zamfara State National Assembly, governorship and State House of Assembly elections. The commission specifically stated that the purported letter could be a fake document emanating from online media. The AGF had in the letter purportedly demanded a shift in the polls following the decision of the Appeal Court that all parties should return to the status quo in the primaries of the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress. The AGF in the letter which was said to have been written to the INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and dated Fe...

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17Nov By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Alleged Party Primaries Bribe: DSS Submits Report On Oshiomhole To AGF

The Department of State Security Service, DSS has submitted a report of its findings on its investigation of the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) for review, Saturday Sun reliably gathered in Abuja yesterday. The embattled party chairman was recently summoned for interrogation by the leadership of the secret police following allegations financial inducement and compromise in the conduct and outcome of the recently held APC primaries. The party leadership was accused of collecting bribes in millions of dollars to favour particular aspirants who eventually emerged as candidates particularly in Imo and Ogun states among others. After b...

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14Nov By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Dasuki Writes Judge, Says He Will Never Go To Court Again

BREAKING: Dasuki writes judge, says he will never go to court again because of remarks by Buhari and AGF saying they will never honor Court orders calling for his release.

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24Sep By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Buhari To Grant Presidential Pardon To Ambrose Alli

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has had an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari over plea for presidential pardon for former Governor of Old Bendel State (now Edo and Delta States), late Prof. Ambrose Alli. The President has subsequently instructed the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to begin the process. Governor Obaseki disclosed this during the Memorial Service held in honour of late Prof. Alli at the Saint Ambrose Catholic Church, in Emaudo, Ekpoma on Saturday, September 22, 2018. He said he is optimistic that at the next meeting of the Council on Prerogative of Mercy, the President will officially grant the pardon. Obaseki also assured that he is working with his Delta State counterpart to set modalities to ensure that pension due to...

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10Sep By dthataNo Comments

News

MTN Sues CBN And AGF Over $8.1 Billions Funds

Telecommunications firm, MTN Communications Limited has taken the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to court. The move according to the firm was in order to protect MTN Nigeria’s assets and shareholders’ rights within the confines of Nigerian law. The firm will, however, continue to dialogue with the relevant authorities. Here is the statement as sent by the company: Further announcement regarding Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Attorney General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (AGF) matters and renewal of cautionary announcement. As previously disclosed the CBN has alleged improper dividend repatriations by MTN Nigeria Communications Limited (MTN Nigeria) and requested that $8.1 billion be returned “to the ...

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27Apr By raymonNo Comments

News

Federal Government Pays N135m Compensation To Families Of 8 Victims Killed By DSS in 2013

The federal government on Thursday released a cheque of N135 million to the relatives and victims of eight persons who were killed by the Department of State Services (DSS) in 2013. The payment is coming four years and seven months after a panel of inquiry by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) indicted the security agency of grossly violating the rights of the victims and consequently ordered the State Security Service to pay compensation of N135m to the dead and injured victims. The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), who made the presentation on behalf of the federal government, said the gesture is a confirmation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to upholding the rule of law, justice and respect of human r...

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16Apr By raymonNo Comments

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Ebonyi State Lecturer, Victor Koreyo Renounces Nigerian Citizenship Over Alleged Injustice

Victor Koreyo, a lecturer at the Department of Ceramics and Glass Technology, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Afikpo, Ebonyi State has declared his intention to renounce his Nigerian citizenship for what he called social injustice. In a letter to President Buhari and made available to journalists in Abuja yesterday, he said he was demoted for a period of eight years by the management of the institution and urged the President to endorse his request. Koreyo, from Nassarawa state, said a directive was given by the Federal Government in 2007 directing all lecturers to produce additional qualification relevant to the job they do. Against that background, the 7th Governing Council of the institution gave Koreyo two years to produce a foreign institution master degree in Ceramic Sc...

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4Apr By raymonNo Comments

News

Abacha Loot: Matters Miscellany

I got a credible information last week from some grapevines in Abuja that the much-talked about outstanding sum of $322 million (not $321 million as has been widely reported) stashed away in some secret accounts by former military dictator, the late General Sani Abacha, in Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Switzerland, routinely referred to as Abacha loot, has been repatriated and it is sitting pretty in a dedicated account in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This calls for pomp and ceremony, especially by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), which had committed to ensure that the loot was repatriated, regardless of the shenanigans and blackmail from within and outside some official quarters in Nigeria. A powerful Nige...

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7Mar By raymonNo Comments

News

Lawyer Drags Buhari, National Assembly, Others To Court Over Election Sequence

A Nigerian lawyer, Chyma Anthony, has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Assembly and the Attorney General of the Federation, (AGF) Ibrahim Malami, to a federal high court in Abuja, over the move by the lawmakers to change election sequence. Also joined in the suit are, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Among other things, the lawyer is demanding that the court determine whether the decision by the National Assembly to usurp the powers of the INEC to fix the dates of election to the House of Assembly and the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, does not contravene the provisions of the 1999 Constitution. In the suit numbered FHC/ABJ/C...

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5Mar By raymonNo Comments

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Buhari’s Govt, NASS, INEC Dragged To Court Over 2019 Election

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Assembly (NASS) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) have been jointly dragged before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over their adoption of staggered 2019 elections. The plaintiff, Hope Democratic Party (HDP), is praying the court to void and set aside the scheduled staggered elections recently announced by the electoral body for allegedly contravening Sections 76, 116, 132 and 178 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 25 of the Electoral Act, 2010. In the copies of the suit marked FHC/ABJ/207/2018 dated February 26 and made available to newsmen at the weekend, HDP wants the court to determine whether by virtue of the provision of the amended Electoral Act, 2010, the INEC, NASS and AGF are not under a duty a...

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27Feb By raymonNo Comments

News

AGF Malami Usurps Senate Powers, Tells Ojukwu To Resume As NHRC Boss

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has asked Tony Ojukwu to assume office as the acting Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). This is in contravention of the civil service rules and the Act that established the commission which empowers the Senate to clear the appointee. Section 8 of the act states: “There shall be for the commission an Executive Secretary who shall be: ‘a legal practitioner with not less than 20 years post qualification experience and requisite experience in human right issues; a person of proven integrity and be the Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the commission; appointed by the president subject to confirmation by the Senate.” President Muhammadu Buhari had in Dec...

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14Feb By raymonNo Comments

Uncategorized

Biafra: IPOB Insists Court Must Deliver Its Judgment Despite Kanu’s Missing File

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, yesterday asked the Court of Appeal to deliver judgment on its embattled leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, whether his case file was missing or not.   IPOB had raised the alarm over the purported disappearance of the case file of its leader, Mr Nnamdi Kanu at the Appeal Court.     The group said the announcement of the disappearance of the file was a huge joke that further portrayed the rot in the Nigerian Justice sector, while calling on the chief Judge of the federation to step in and salvage what was left of its integrity.   IPOB head of Directorate of Service, Mazi Chika Edoziem, in a statement recalled that the Court of Appeal panel heard Kanu’s matter in March 2017, insisting that any attempt to delay the judgment on...

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8Feb By raymonNo Comments

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Buhari Dragged To Court Over Appointments

A rights activist and lawyer, Mr Francis Moneke, has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, challenging the non-recourse to federal character principle in the appointment of security, intelligence and law enforcement chiefs. The case is before Justice A. Mohammed. Moneke through his counsel, Mr Ikenna Okoli, is contending that, “The pattern of appointments of key and strategic security, intelligence and law enforcement office holders, clearly shows favouritism and nepotism on the part of the 1st Respondent in favour of the people from the Northern part of the country where he comes from, against me and people from the Southern part of the country, especially the South east, where I come from.” ...

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31Jan By raymonNo Comments

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NPA Gives Atiku, Tinubu’s Intels Two Weeks To Pay $48m

The face-off between the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Intels Nigeria Limited (Intels), a company co-owned by former vice president, Atiku Abubakar is not over yet.   This is as the NPA has handed a two-week ultimatum to the company to remit an outstanding $48 million that ought to have been paid into the agency’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) in 2017.     Intels, a logistics and facilities services provider in the maritime and oil and gas sectors, was co-founded by Gabriele Volpi, an Italian national, and former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar.   Atiku has since sold down most of his interest in the company to the former Lagos State governor and APC national leader Bola Tinubu.   Speaking yesterday during an interview with CNBC Africa, Ma...

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25Jan By raymonNo Comments

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Buhari To Champion Anti-Corruption Campaign At AU Summit

President Muhammadu Buhari will Friday depart for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to participate in the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, AU.   A press statement by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, on Thursday says the highlight of the president’s engagements during the visit will be his statement under the historic theme for the AU Summit, namely: “Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation.”   “This is the first time in the 54-year history of the AU that anti-corruption will be made a theme of the gathering of the regional leaders,” the statement said.   On July 4, 2017 during the 29th Session of the AU, African leaders unanimously endorsed Mr. Buhari to champion the f...

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24Jan By raymonNo Comments

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FG Dragged To Court For Contempt In Refusing To Release Sheikh Zakzaky, Wife

A contempt of Court proceedings has been opened against the Director General of State Security Service, the Nigerian Police Force and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) for failing to obey the judgement of Justice Kolawole of the Federal High Court Abuja with regards to the continued detention of Sheikh Zakzaky. In the Notice in Form 49 filed by Counsel to Sheikh Zakzaky, Femi Falana SAN on 22nd January, 2018, referenced Appeal number: CA/A/64/2017, Suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/247/2016 between Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, the applicant and State Security Service, the Contemnor/Respondent, The Nigerian Police Force and the Attorney General of the Federation, respondent said that; pursuant to Order IX, Rule (13) of the Judgement and (Enforcement) Rules Section 308 Section 72 of the Sheriff ...

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