‘It’s Illogical’– Malami Tackles Report On Alleged Release Of Terrorism Financiers

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN, has described as “illogical”, the news going round that his office allegedly facilitated the release of a number of Boko Haram financers.

His strong reaction is coming after he told the world in New York, United States that the federal government was still investigating the suspects while taking necessary measures to conceal their identities and other details in order not to jeopardize gains made so far.

President Muhammadu Buhari also confirmed Nigeria’s success in the fight against terrorism when he told the United Nations General Assembly on Friday that those engaged in such acts were already having a hard time.

But a news media ( not THE WHISTLER), had published an article accusing the AGF of allegedly releasing hundreds of Boko Haram suspects and financiers.

But the AGF, through his Spokesperson, Dr Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, outrightly denied the report, saying that the information conveyed was a spurious fabrication.

“None of the suspected financiers in respect of whom remand orders were procured by the Federal Government was at any time ordered or facilitated to be released by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN.

“The report by Sahara Reporters of the alleged release of 300 suspects by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is a malicious misrepresentation of facts relating to the ongoing investigation of terrorism financing suspects in Nigeria.

“Sahara reporters must have lost their sense of logic in view of their inherent illogical position,” Gwandu’s statement partly read.

Gwandu explained that the federal government, in line with the constitution, was probing terrorism cases as well as prosecuting the suspects in respective courts of competent jurisdiction.

He added that the merit of the case would be decided by the court and that the Office of AGF did not withdraw its suit against the suspects.

The statement added:

“It is common knowledge that where a matter is submitted to a Court of law, it is only through the judicial process that any subsequent action can possibly be taken. The question then arising from the claim of Sahara Reporters is this:
When was an application filed in Court by the office of the attorney general by which the release of the purported suspects was procured?

“It amounts to approbation and reprobation for the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation to, in one breath, obtain an order seeking for continued detention of the alleged financiers of Boko Haram and at the same time having them released.

“If the interest of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation was to have the people released, the idea of approaching the Court for an order of the court seeking for extension or time to have them in custody couldn’t have even arise in the first place.”