Senate Forgery: Nigeria’s Democratic Process Must Be Sustained – AGF Insists
Mr. Abubakar Malami, Attorney General of Nigeria / Minister of Justice[/caption]
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, on Wednesday, said that his office did not err by instituting a legal action against Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, alongside other presiding officers of the Senate over the alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Order 2015.
Malami, who made the statement when he appeared before the senate yesterday, said that his office was convinced that the suit should be prosecuted in the interest of public.
While noting that making specific comments on the issue could be subjudice, the AGF clarified that his initial involvement as a counsel in one of the three suits instituted on the forgery case, did not constitute any conflict of interest.
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Quoting from both the 1999 Constitution and the Senate rule book, the AGF said, “The proof of evidence is before the court. I am a party in the suit being the prosecutor. I can’t comment on the question you asked because doing so would be subjudice.”
He said, “I was invited to appear before the committee based on a letter which reads ‘Imminent threat to Nigeria democracy.’ I have a clear obligation to do whatever should be done within the context of the constitution to sustain the democratic process.
“The issue that constitutes the basis of this invitation is a criminal case instituted against certain members of the Senate. It is an act that predates my appointment. There are a series of suits.
“I was appointed on the 12th of November, 2015. That is four months after the investigation was concluded by the NPF. I have an obligation in the sustenance of democracy to institute a legal action from an investigation that has been concluded. It was based on this that I took the action.
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“The action was not taken to truncate any democratic process, but was taken to protect democracy. There are now two pending cases in court. One is a civil case instituted by some senators. The other is a criminal case instituted by the office of the AGF.
“The initiation behind the forgery case was taken in the interest of the public and in the interest of democracy. I want to state clearly that my decision was based on public interest and the aim is to prevent abuse of public offices.
“The National Assembly has the powers to regulate its own procedure. But the basis for filing my case was that the position taken was not that of the Senate. The Senate Standing Rules allegedly amended in 2015 did not follow the traditional way of amendment.”
