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Tag: AGF

  • #EndSARS: AGF must issue national apology over wrong comments, Hon Yusuf tells FG

    #EndSARS: AGF must issue national apology over wrong comments, Hon Yusuf tells FG

    …says FG must reverse missteps

    Federal Government should reverse its missteps as the two youth members of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry commendably resumed sitting during the weekend, a member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Teejay Yusuf has said.

    Rinu Oduala and Temitope Majekodunmi, the youth members of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry resumed sitting on Saturday November 14, after boycotting the panel for more than a week in protest against the Central Bank of Nigeria’s freezing of their bank accounts and that of other #EndSARS promoters.

    In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, Honourable Teejay Yusuf (PDP, Ijumu/Kabba-Bunu Federal Constituency) stated that while there are lessons to learn by both the protesters and the government, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami’s alleged statement that hoodlum in military fatigues shot at protesters deserves to be followed with a national apology.

    He emphasized that it is ‘thoroughly confounding’ that in spite of the Federal Government promise to look into the demands of the protesters, government went to great lengths with actions and words that aroused real doubts over its sincerity.

    “The Federal Government asked them to calm down and they did so, only for the Federal Government to embark upon series of arrests, passport seizure and freezing of bank accounts of the #EndSARS protesters.

    “While right thinking citizens feel concerned about the real possibilities of driving the democratic expression of dissenting opinions into the threatening catacombs of underground activities, the Federal Government must advice itself against further deliberate mis-steps.

    “It is absolutely pathetic that a government that promised progressive ideals has consistently shown a tendency to find comfort in dictatorial fiat and jackboot oppression of its people,” he stated.

    According to the legislator, it is absolutely regrettable that the idealistic youthful protesters were being deliberately confronted with strong-arm tactics and disrespectfully lumped together by government in a manner suggestive of deliberate official mischief aimed towards obliterating their credibility.

    “Lawful protests are part of citizens’ inalienable democratic rights and the October protests by youth and activists laid out a five-point demand before the government calling for an end to police brutality across the country.

    “They also asked for immediate release of arrested protesters, justice for all deceased victims of police brutality, appropriate compensations for their families, setting up of an independent body to oversee the investigation and prosecution of all reported police misconduct within a period of 10 days.

    “Their demands for a psychological evaluation of disbanded Special Anti-Robbery operatives, increase in police salary and compensations all resonated with the Nigerian public”, he stated.

    Noting that the Federal Government’s Presidential Panel on Police Reforms acceded to the five demands made by the protesters, Honourable Yusuf emphasized the need for government to foster a sense of belonging and social justice rather than decisions that further portrays Nigeria in negative light internationally.

  • PDP Reps sue Lai Mohammed, AGF, NBC over broadcasting code

    PDP Reps sue Lai Mohammed, AGF, NBC over broadcasting code

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Representatives has dragged the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) before the Federal High Court in Abuja to invalidate the controversial 6th broadcasting code.

    A copy of the originating summon sighted in Abuja joins Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami as defendant in the suit.

    Plaintiffs in the suit are caucus leader Kingsley Chinda; his Deputy Chukwuma Onyema; Caucus Deputy Whip Ajibola Muraina; Mark Gbillah; Tyough Robert; Bulus Solomon; Rimamnde Shawulu Kwewum; Yusuf Ayo Tajudeen and Onyeman Chukwuma.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Chinda- led PDP caucus is backed by the Uche Secondus- led national leadership of the PDP but not recognised by the leadership of the House.

    It claimed to have instituted the case on behalf of “themselves, individually and as representatives of the PDP caucus in the House of Representatives”.

    In the suit filed on their behalf by Barrister Segun Fiki and Barrister Johnmary Chukwuasi Jideobi, the lawmakers want the court to determine whether by the provisions of Section 36 (12) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Amended 6th Nigerian Broadcasting Code enacted/issued by the 1st Defendant which created the purported offences of “hate speech” and “fake news” and correspondingly purported to have imposed penalties is not unconstitutional, null and void.

    They are also asking the court to determine whether or not, having regard to the extant provisions of Sections 6 and 23 of the National Broadcasting Commission Act Cap. N11 LFN 2004, the 1st Defendant has the statutory power to issue Broadcasting Code and whether the 6th Nigerian Broadcasting Code purportedly issued is not a nullity and therefore void?

    They are also asking the court to determine “whether, having regard to the extant provisions of Sections 4 (1), (2), (3) & (4), 47 & 58(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Order 14 of the Standing Rules of the House of Representatives (Procedure on Subsidiary Legislation), the 1st and 2nd Defendants have the power or vires to enact, issue and give effect to or enforce the Amended 6th Nigerian Broadcasting Code without prior ratification by the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, and if not, whether the 1st Defendant’s enactment/issuance and application of the said Amended 6th Nigerian Broadcasting Code is not an usurpation of the legislative powers expressly conferred on the legislature by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)?

    They prayed the court to declare the Amended 6th Nigerian Broadcasting Code unconstitutional, null and void especially since the said offences and penalties set out in the code have not been defined and/or prescribed in any written law by the National Assembly of Nigeria?

    They are also asking the court to declare that the 2nd Defendant (NBC) is the sole authority statutorily empowered in Nigeria to enact and/or issue Broadcasting Codes throughout the Federation, to the exclusion of the 1st Defendant and that the 1st Defendant’s enactment of the 6th Amended Nigerian Broadcasting Code is ultra vires, unlawful, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

    They also want an order of the court perpetually restraining the 1st Defendant from further enacting, issuing or enforcing any National Broadcasting Code.

    The suit, which has not been assigned to any court, is supported by a 15- paragraph affidavit deposed to by one Francis U. Obalim and a written address dated 9th September, 2020.

  • ‘NNBA’ lawyers write AGF, seek independent recognition

    ‘NNBA’ lawyers write AGF, seek independent recognition

    A new body of lawyers, the New Nigerian Bar Association (NNBA), has formally written and notified the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, of its existence.

    According to reports, the new association said its formation, last Thursday, followed the alleged failure of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to uphold a national unity in its recent decisions.

    Last Thursday, two Kaduna-based lawyers – Nuhu Ibrahim and Abdulbasit Suleiman – announced the NNBA’s formation, following NBA’s withdrawal of an Annual General Conference (AGC) invitation to Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, among other grievances.

    They informed the AGF of their plans in an August 28 letter signed by Ibrahim as Convener 1 and Suleiman as Convener 2.

    The letter to the AGF reads in part: “We are pleased to inform you of the formation of a new Association of Lawyers as above captioned.

    “The formation of the new Association has become imperative and expedient especially flowing from the activities, disposition and most recently, the decision of the Nigerian Bar Association-NEC (National Executive Committee), which apparently failed to take into consideration our national interests and particularly do not promote the unity of our indissoluble country, Nigeria.

    “Sir, the New Nigerian Bar Association believes in the ideals that bound our country together as echoed in our National Anthem: ‘The Labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain.’

    “You are, however, to be further informed that work is in progress with regards to all the nitty-gritty of the formation of an association such as this to which we shall keep you updated.”

    Both men had said they and other like-minds were consulting with “very senior lawyers of Northern Nigeria extraction and those practising therein with the view to constituting the (board of) trustees and for purposes of fixing a date for formal inauguration of the association”.

    Meanwhile, the NBA President Olumide Akpata has set up an Electoral Audit and Reforms Committee to audit the body’s 2016, 2018 and 2020 elections.

    The committee, headed by Ayo Akintunde (SAN), is expected to also recommend reforms for future electoral systems and processes.

    Akpata, who was sworn into office for a two-year term last Friday, stated this yesterday in a series of tweets on his Twitter handle.

    The NBA is facing threats to its unity, following unresolved issues on the credibility of its national officers’ elections on July 29 and 30, 2020.

    The NBA leadership had been dominated by Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) until Akpata, 47, caused an upset and won the presidential race by a landslide.

    He defeated two SANs – Dr. Babatunde Ajibade and Mr. Dele Adesina – to become the first elected non-SAN president of the NBA in 22 years.

    But Adesina faulted the process, alleging that the election was manipulated.

    The NBA Board of Trustees (BoT) agreed that the election was not perfect.

  • AGF Malami gives Sahara Reporters 7-day ultimatum over ‘libelous’ report

    AGF Malami gives Sahara Reporters 7-day ultimatum over ‘libelous’ report

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has handed a seven-day ultimatum to Sahara Reporters over what he described as “libelous and defamatory publications” against him.

    Malami said the online newspaper must retract the publications and apologize within the stipulated period.

    Malami, in a statement signed by Dr. Umar Gwandu, his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations on Monday said the consequence of the criminal defamation published by Sahara Reporters, has subjected him to considerable distress, psychological trauma and anxiety.

    He said the publication has greatly injured his character and reputation, which is capable of lowering his estimation in the eyes of right-thinking persons in the society.

    He said that series of prejudicial articles/materials were published by Sahara Reporters Inc. which were adverse against him, disparaged his reputation via its online internet platform and broadcast on the internet via the Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and other similar Social Media platforms where same could be viewed and assessed by the whole world and further shared and/or disseminated virally without restraint.

    Malami noted in particular that on July 10, 11, and 12, Sahara Reporters, in what appears like a coordinated attack, viciously wrote and maliciously published libelous and criminally defamatory articles against his person.

    The Minister said it is pertinent to note that the publications were untrue, fabrications, and mere figments of the imaginations of Sahara Reporters and are unsupported howsoever.

    “Since the defamatory articles were published, I have been receiving several telephone calls and visits from well-meaning Nigerians, friends, well-wishers and associates from all over the world including those I have dealt with and am still dealing with in my official capacity as Nigeria’s Chief Law Officer, many of whom have expressed serious concerns over the publication”.

    He said that the publication of malicious libel and criminal defamation against him by Sahara Reporters was with a view to disparaging him in the eyes of right-thinking persons, contrary to the Nigerian Criminal and Penal Laws and a gross violation of his Right to the Dignity of the Human Person as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As amended).

  • FG has received N1.69b COVID-19 donations – AGF

    FG has received N1.69b COVID-19 donations – AGF

    The Federal Government received a total sum of N1.69 billion as COVID-19 eradication support donations from April 1 to May 31.

    Mr Henshaw Ogubike, Director, Information, Press and Public Relations, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), made the disclosure in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

    Ogubuike said that the donations were received through designated commercial bank accounts and the Central Bank of Nigeria/Treasury Single Account (CBN/TSA).

    He recalled that recently, the federal government, through the office of the accountant general of the federation, opened accounts with some commercial banks, through which the donations could be made.

    According to him, this was in addition to the CBN/TSA account, to ensure effective and efficient coordination and management of the funds.

    He said a breakdown of the N1.69 billion received from the inception of accounts indicated that a total donation of N792.12 million was received from April 1 to May 8.

    Ogubuike, however, noted that the details of the N792.12 million received from April 1 to May 8, had earlier been made public.

    The director of information, press and public relations further said that N897.64 million was received from May 9 to May 31.

    He said that out of the sum, the total amount received through commercial banks was N710.076 million while N187.56 was received through CBN/TSA.

    “From 9th May to 31st May, the sum of N100 million was received through Zenith Bank; N507.75 million through First Bank; N2.21 million through Access Bank; and N100.11million through GT Bank,” he said.

  • AGF takes over prosecution of alleged Taraba kidnap kingpin, Wadume

    AGF takes over prosecution of alleged Taraba kidnap kingpin, Wadume

    The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation has taken over from the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, the prosecution of the alleged Taraba State kidnapping kingpin, Bala Hamisu, also known as Wadume, along with 19 others.

    The IGP had on February 3, 2020, slammed 16 counts of terrorism, murder, kidnapping, and illegal arms running against the 20 defendants, among whom are two police officers and 10 soldiers.

    Only six of the 20 defendants, including Wadume, were present in court on Wednesday.

    The 10 soldiers among the defendants were absent on Wednesday, a repeat of the scenario when the case was first mentioned in court on March 16, 2020.

    The lawyer who was then prosecuting the case on IGP’s behalf, Simon Lough, had informed the judge, Justice Binta Nyako, at the March 16 proceedings that the Army had rebuffed repeated requests to release the soldiers for arraignment.

    This prompted the judge to order the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, to release the 10 defendants to the police.

    Meanwhile, the prosecuting counsel from the AGF office, Labaran Magaji, who appeared in the case for the first time on Wednesday, told Justice Nyako that his office took over the case and received the case file from the police on Tuesday.

    He requested an adjournment to enable him to make moves for the production of all the defendants in court.

    Magaji said, “The AGF office applied to take over the prosecution of the criminal charge. We were handed over the file yesterday(Tuesday). The case has about 20 defendants, but only six defendants are present in court.

    “In the circumstances, we shall be asking for a short adjournment for the purpose of bringing all the suspects named in the charge.

    “The prosecution shall do the needful to ensure that the case takes off immediately.”

    Defence lawyers that were present in court did not oppose the request for adjournment.

    The judge adjourned the matter till 10.30 am on June 8.

    The soldiers among the defendants are Captain Tijjani Balarabe, Staff Sgt. David Isaiah; Sgt. Ibrahim Mohammed; Corporal Bartholomew Obanye; Private Mohammed Nura; Lance Corporal Okorozie Gideon; Corporal Markus Michael; L/Corporal Nvenaweimoeimi Akpagra; and Staff Sgt. Abdullahi Adamu, and Private Ebele Emmanuel.

    The other 10 defendants are, Wadume, ASP Aondona Iorbee, Inspector Aliyu Dadje, Auwalu Bala, aka Omo Razor, Uba Bala (aka Uba Belu); Ahmad Suleiman (aka Dan Ball); Bashir Waziri, (aka Baba runs); Zubairu Abdullahi (aka Basho); Hafizu Bala (aka Maiwelder); and Rayyanu Abdul.

  • JUST IN: EFCC picks up ex-AGF Adoke on arrival from Dubai

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has picked up a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke( SAN) upon arrival from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

    Adoke is being probed alongside others over $1.06billion Malabu Oil Block ( OPL 245) deal.

    The ex-AGF was arrested in Abu Dhabi on November 11 after being watch-listed by the EFCC.
    But after a month in the custody of the International Police( INTERPOL) in the UAE, Adoke voluntarily offered to return to the country for interrogation by the EFCC and trial.

    Spotting a white Kaftan with a white cap, Adoke arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja aboard Emirates flight (Boeing 777 -300ER) at 3.45pm.

    He was however picked up by EFCC operatives and transferred into a Toyota bus marked RBC 931 BV while reading a book he brought from Dubai.

  • Malabu: Ex-AGF Adoke released from Dubai prison, to arrive Nigeria today

    Mohammed Bello Adoke, former Attorney-general and justice minister, declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, is on his way to Nigeria from Dubai.

    According to a report by Premium Times, the embattled ex-AGF left Dubai Thursday morning after he was freed by the Interpol.

    It is not clear whether the EFCC will arrest him on arrival in Abuja at 3:40 p.m. local time, as it has no subsisting arrest warrant to do so.

    He was arrested by Interpol on November 11 after arriving in the UAE for medical check-up and summarily taken into custody.

    His arrest followed an Interpol red alert which the Nigerian government had issued against him as part of the ongoing legal actions over the controversial Malabu Oil deal.

    But the UAE authorities freed him after Nigeria failed to provide legal basis and other requisite bilateral supports to justify his continued detention, the online newspaper reported.

    The arrest warrant upon which Mr Adoke was arrested was nullified in October by Justice Zanchi, Federal Capital Territory High Court. The same judge had issued an arrest warrant against Adoke, alongside former oil minister, Dan Etete in April.

    Adoke’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, got the court to cancel the earlier order based on his argument that it was procured wrongfully, following an ex-parte request by EFCC.

    “I was able to explain to the court that the order breached my client’s right to a fair hearing. That no criminal charge had ever been served on him to warrant him been wanted for evading trial and that the order was made without full disclosure by the EFCC regarding the entire facts concerning Adoke especially that he had been acquitted in this same charges by another federal high court presided by Justice Nyako”, Ozekhome said then in October.

  • Sowore: Court summons AGF, DSS DG

    The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, on Tuesday, summoned the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and the Director-General of the Department of State Service, DSS, Yusuf Bichi, to appear before it on Monday to explain the continued detention of pro-democracy activist, Omoyele Sowore.

    The court, in a bench ruling that was delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo, ordered the duo to appear and show cause why it should not direct the unconditional release of Sowore from detention.

    Justice Ekwo mandated the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court to immediately notify both the AGF and the DSS boss of its summon, as well as the pending fundamental rights enforcement suit Sowore and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, initiated against them.

    Sowore and Bakare had in their suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1409/2019, alleged gross violation of their constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights. They are demanding an aggregate sum of N1billion from the Respondents, as general and aggravated damages for their breached rights to personal liberty, dignity of person, fair hearing, family life, freedom of association and freedom of movement.

    Aside seeking an order of perpetual injunction to restrain the Respondents from further violating their rights, the Applicants demanded for a public apology in five national dailies, Vanguard reports.

    At the resumed proceeding on Tuesday, counsel to the Applicants, Marshal Abubakar, who is from chambers of Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, notified the court of a fresh ex-parte motion for Sowore to either be released from detention or produced by the DSS.

    He said the move became necessary after operatives of the DSS re-arrested Sowore at the premises of the court on December 6 and had since retained him in custody.

  • Falana writes AGF, demands Sowore’s immediate release

    Falana writes AGF, demands Sowore’s immediate release

    Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has written to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN, seeking the release of the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore, from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

    In the letter dated December 13, 2019, Falana urged the AGF to use his office to direct the DSS to release Sowore from custody in line with the order of the Federal High court admitting him to bail pending trial.

    Falana’s letter was titled, ‘Request For The Release Of Omoyele Sowore From Illegal Custody.’

    It follows an earlier announcement by the AGF office that it had taken over the prosecution of Sowore and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, from the DSS.

    It read; “Following the announcement of your decision to take over the case of Federal Republic of Nigeria v Omoyele Sowore & Another, two members of the legal defence team visited the headquarters of the State Security Service on December 13, 2019, to demand the immediate release of Sowore from illegal custody.

    “Our colleagues were however advised to direct the request to your office in view of the fact that you have taken over the case from the State Security Service.

    “In the light of the foregoing, we hereby request you to use your good offices to direct the State Security Service to release Sowore from custody in line with the order of the Federal High court admitting him to bail pending trial.

    “We are confident that you will not hesitate to grant our request as no court has issued any remand order for his detention,” the letter read in part.

    The AGF’s decision to take over the case follows criticism of the invasion of the Federal High Court in Abuja by the operatives of the DSS to re-arrest Sowore on December 6th.