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Tag: Malami

  • Court hears Nnamdi Kanu’s N20bn suit against Malami, NIA boss Nov. 18

    Court hears Nnamdi Kanu’s N20bn suit against Malami, NIA boss Nov. 18

    A Federal High Court, Abuja has fixed Nov  18 for hearing a N20bn suit filed by leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, against the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, SAN.
    Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date for hearing the suit, which also has the Director-General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Abubakar as a defendant.
    Kanu, through his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, had filed a writ of summons marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1702/222.
    The application, dated and filed on Sept. 23, listed Abubakar Malami and Ahmed Rufai Abubakar as 1st and 2nd defendants respectively.
    Ejimakor sought “a declaration that the defendants’ arrest and imprisonment of the plaintiff (Kanu) at a location in Kenya and the subsequent imprisonment of the paintiff in the aircraft that conveyed him from Kenya to Nigeria amounted to false arrest and false imprisonment.
    “A declaration of this Honourable court that the defendants acted in bad faith and/or abused their public offices in falsely arresting and falsely imprisoning the plaintiff at the said location in Kenya and said aircraft.
    ”An order of this honourable court directing the defendants to, jointly and severally, pay to the plaintiff the sum of N20,000,000,000.00 (Twenty Billion Naira only) being general and exemplary damages.
    “An order of this honourable court directing the defendants to separately write and deliver to the plaintiff, an unreserved personal letter of apology.”
    He prayed that the letters of apology shall be prominently and boldly published full-page in two Nigerian newspapers of national circulation.
    He also sought an order of the court, directing the defendants to pay the cost of the suit, among others.
  • AGF Malami to produce 10 witnesses against Anambra varsity professor

    AGF Malami to produce 10 witnesses against Anambra varsity professor

    The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has said that about 10 witnesses would testify in a suit filed against Prof. Obiajulu Obikeze and four others over allegations bordering on forgery of chieftaincy documents.

    Counsel for the AGF, Ewere Aliemeke, made this known on Friday before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Upon resumed hearing, Aliemeke, who held the brief of Joe Agi, SAN, informed that the matter was scheduled for the report.

    “We are pleased to inform the court that we have been able to retrieve the file of the case from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation,” he said.

    “How many witnesses are you calling?” the judge asked.

    “We are going to call about 10 witnesses,” he responded.

    But Chief Okey Obike, who appeared for the defendants, said an application seeking an order dismissing the charge had been filed.

    “It was filed on the 19th day of April, 2022. We are saying that this charge is a complete abuse of court processes,” he said.

    Aliemeke, who acknowledged the receipt of the application, said the prosecution had responded to the process.

    “But we intend to add one or more things to the process filed by the previous counsel,” he said.

    Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until Dec. 14 to hear the preliminary objection of the defence.

    On June 10, reported that the AGF took over the case from the Nigerian police, the former prosecutor.

    Prof. Obikeze, Dr Raymond Ofor, Chief Israel Ezue, Sir Amobi Nwafor and Okafor Bethram IK, who are 1st to 5th defendants respectively, are being prosecuted over allegations bordering on forgery of chieftaincy documents.

    Obikeze, who works with the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, formerly known as Anambra State University Igbariam in Anambra, was arraigned on Feb. 22 alongside others on 11 counts.

    Offor is current President-General of Awa Community in Orumba North LGA and a retired director with Anambra Ministry of Education; Chief Ezue, a tyre merchant in the northern states of the country; Sir Nwafor, an architect by training and Bethram was a retired headmaster at a primary school in Agulu in Aniocha LGA of the state.

    In the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/184/2021 dated and filed on July 6, 2021, the defendants were alleged to have committed the offence around Jan.15, 2019, at Awa, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra.

    In count one, the five defendants, and others now at large, were alleged to have conspired to commit forgery offence contrary to Section 3(6) and punishable under Section 1(2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 Laws of Nigeria, 2010.

    While count two accused them of uttering forged documents, count three accused them of making “a forged letter to the Special Adviser to the Governor of Anambra on Chieftaincy and Towns Union Matters.

    The document is titled, “Submission of Awa Chieftaincy Constitution,” knowing it to be false, with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine at the Government House, Awka, Anambra State.”

    NAN

  • BREAKING: Court set for judgment in extradition suit against DCP Abba Kyari

    BREAKING: Court set for judgment in extradition suit against DCP Abba Kyari

    A Federal High Court in Abuja will today deliver a judgment in a suit instituted by the Federal Government seeking to extradite the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police DCP, Abba Kyari to the United States of America.

    The Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, acting on behalf of the Federal Government filed the extradition charges against Kyari to pave the way for his extradition to America to answer fraud allegations in the United States of America.

    According to DAILY POST Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Abuja division of the Court will hand over the verdict that would determine the fate of suspended Police Chief.

    A notice of judgment was sighted in the suit indicating that it will be delivered this morning, with the notice served on the Federal Government and the legal team of Abba Kyari.

    An internet fraudster, Abass Ramon, aka Hushpuppi, had in America implicated Kyari in a $1.1million wire fraud prompting the American government to request for the extradition of Kyari to explain his own side of the story.

    The AGF, Abubakar Malami (SAN) filed the extradition charges under the Extradition Act and it is marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/249/2022.

    In April 2021, a jury in America filed an indictment against Kyari with the approval of the US District Court and demanded that Kyari should stand trial for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft.

    Consequently, the American embassy requested for Kyari’s extradition saying, “on April 29, 2021, based on the indictment filed by the Grand Jury and with the approval of the United States District Court for the Central District of California, a Deputy Clerk of the court issued a warrant of arrest for Kyari.

    “Kyari is the subject of an indictment in case number 2:21-cr-00203 (also referred to as 2:21-mj-00760 and 2:21-cr-00203-rgk), filed April 29, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.”

    Malami had while filing the charge said that the request for the surrender of Kyari was not made to persecute or punish him on account of his race, religion, nationality or political opinions but in good faith and the interest of justice.

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had also arrested Kyari on February 12 for investigation over allegations bordering on hard drug trafficking and had since been charged to court upon his indictment.

  • 2023: AGF Malami set to contest Kebbi governorship election

    2023: AGF Malami set to contest Kebbi governorship election

    The Minister of Justice and Attorney -General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, SAN says he has accepted calls from the Kebbi people to run for the state governorship.

    Malami will be running on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He made the acceptance in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday, at an interactive session with APC stakeholders in the state.

    “Since you want me to contest governorship position of the state, I hereby accept your demand since you want me to do so.

    “People from the state have been pressurising me to contest the governorship position in 2023.

    “Going by my proper upbringing as son of an Islamic teacher, I will not show interest to contest for any position or judge myself qualify for any position except the people of the state want me to.

    “I have contributed a lot to the country and also to the state in areas of employment generation, fight against poverty, agricultural revolution and women empowerment,’’ he said.

    “We pray for Allah’s guidance and assistance and may the answer to your demands be the continuous development of the state,’’ he said.

    Gov. Atiku Bagudu urged party leaders not to relent in pursuing a resolution to bring aggrieved members back into the APC fold.

    Bagudu called on the youths to emulate the humility of Malami as a son of Islamic teacher.

    “May Allah bless Malami, and we thank Almighty Allah for your contributions to the people of the state as an upright person, we will continue to pray for you,” he said.

    Malami’s associates have contributed N130 million to support his gubernatorial ambition.

    The contributions are as follows – women supporters in the state, N30 million; Malami Women Support Initiative, N20 million; and the association of serving councillors of 225 wards in the state, N25 million.

    Other are the association of former members of the State House of Assembly – N5 million and friends and associates of Malami, N50 million.

  • Hushpuppi: Court fixes date to hear suspended DCP Kyari’s extradition suit

    Hushpuppi: Court fixes date to hear suspended DCP Kyari’s extradition suit

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, fixed June 2 for hearing of the extradition suit filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) against suspended DCP Abba Kyari.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date after counsel for the AGF, Pius Akutah, applied for more time to enable parties respond to processes served on each other by Mahmud Magaji, SAN, lawyer to Kyari.

    Akutah informed that though the court, in the last adjourned date, fixed today for hearing in the matter, he had a motion for extension of time dated and filed on April 19.

    After the application was not opposed by Mahmud Magaji,, SAN, counsel to Kari, Justice Ekwo granted the order as prayed.

    The judge then adjourned the matter until June 2 for hearing.

    The hearing in the suit was, on March 23, suffered a setback.

    The development occurred when Nureni Jimoh, SAN, who appeared for Kyari then, told Justice Ekwo shortly after the matter was called for mention but he was yet to be served with the AGF’s processes.

    On March 9, reported that the court had fixed today, March 23, for the hearing of the extradition application.

    The Federal Government had sought for Kyari’s extradition to the United States (U.S) to answer a case over his alleged linked with the fraudster, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi.

    The Federal Government, through the Office of the AGF, had filed the application marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/249/2022.

    The suit, titled: “Application for the Extradition of Abba Kyari to the U.S.,” was dated and filed March 2.

    While the AGF is the applicant, Kyari is the respondent in the application.

    Kyari was formerly the head of Inspector-General of Police special Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

    The application was filed under the Extradition Act, as part of Nigerian government’s approval of the request by the U. S. for Kyari’s extradition.

  • 2023: Malami joins Kebbi guber race, vows not to betray his supporters

    2023: Malami joins Kebbi guber race, vows not to betray his supporters

    The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has declared his intention to contest the 2023 gubernatorial election in the state vowing he won’t betray his teeming supporters in Kebbi State.

    The AGF who declared before his supporters in Kebbi State, vowed not to betray them.

    “If God in His mercies permits, and all goes well, I will as a politician contest the governorship of Kebbi state. I am seeking your support.

    “I want to announce that I will contest indeed and as such I am counting on your prayers and support so that we can all work and survive the race together. I have no history of betrayal and I won’t betray you people. I will work for you,” he told his supporters in Hausa, in a video that was seen yesterday.

    The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, pointed out that leaders need followers and followers in turn need their leaders in order to ensure that the citizens benefit, even as he promised to work day and night to turn the life of citizens around.

    Malami had previously told close friends of his intention to contest the Kebbi state election.

    He certainly would be contesting under the All Progressives Congress (APC) and would be seeking to succeed the current Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, who is completing his second term.

    In 2014, Malami picked nomination form to run for Kebbi State Governor under the platform of the APC, but lost to Bagudu in the party’s primary election.

    The Attorney General of the Federation was appointed into his current position by President Buhari in 2015. He was born on 17 April 1967 in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.

    Malami obtained his First School Leaving Certificate(FSLC) from Nassarawa Primary School, Birnin Kebbi. He proceeded to College of Arts and Arabic Studies for his secondary education.

    He obtained a degree in law from the Usmanu Danfodiyo University in 1991 and was called to Bar in 1992.

    In 1994, Malami obtained a Master Degree in Public Administration from the University of Maiduguri.

    In 2011, Malami served as the National Legal Adviser of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Chairman, Legal Team, CPC Presidential Campaign Organisation and Chairman Legal Team, CPC Presidential Campaign Organization.

    Malami was among those that drafted the manifesto of the APC and a member of the inter-party Merger Committees of the CPC, ACN, ANPP, a faction APGA, DPP towards the formation of the APC·

  • IPOB leader urges AGF to punish officers over his torture in Kenya, Nigeria

    IPOB leader urges AGF to punish officers over his torture in Kenya, Nigeria

    Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has asked the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Abubakar Malami, to punish all those who tortured him during his arrest in Kenya and detention in Nigeria.

     

    This was among the five demands sought in a letter to the Attorney General of the Federation, signed by his Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, detailing how he was arrested and tortured in Kenya and Nigeria.

     

    Kanu was arrested in an African country believed to be Kenya and repatriated in June 2021.

     

    This was due to his agitation for the restoration of Biafra. He fled Nigeria in 2017 after Justice Binta Nyako of an Abuja Federal High Court granted him bail.

     

    However, the IPOB leader disclosed that he was tortured and subjected to inhumane treatment after his arrest in Kenya.

     

    To this end, the IPOB leader urged Malami to investigate and prosecute all those involved in his torture, in line with the provisions of the Anti-Torture Act of 2017.

     

    Kanu also urged the AGF to ensure his protection while in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS.

     

    The letter reads partly: “In view of the forgoing, we hereby make the following Prayers: That, consistent with the provisions of the Anti-Torture Act, 2017, the office of the Attorney-General take prompt measures to initiate the prosecution of all persons that were directly or indirectly culpable in the torture of our Client. For your ease of reference, Section 5 of the Anti Torture Act provides that: “A person who has suffered or alleges that he has been subjected to torture shall have the right to complain to and to have his case promptly and impartially examined by a competent authority.

     

    “The competent authority under subsection (1) shall take steps to ensure that the complainant is protected against all ill-treatment or intimidation as a consequence of his complaint or any given evidence.

     

    “That the said prosecutorial action be levied, in line with Section 8 of the Anti Torture Act, which provides that ‘A person who actually participates in the infliction of torture or who is present during the commission of the act is liable as the principal.’

     

    “An order from a superior officer or from a superior in the office or public authority shall not be invoked as a justification for torture.

     

    “The immediate commanding officer of the unit concerned of the security or law enforcement agencies is held liable as an accessory to the crime for any act or omission or negligence on his part that may have led to the commission of torture by his subordinates.

     

    “In conclusion, we call your attention to the provisions of Section 1 of the Anti Torture Act, which states that ‘The Government shall—(a) ensure that the rights of all persons, including suspects, detainees and prisoners are respected at all times and that no person placed under investigation or held in the custody of any person in authority shall be subjected to physical harm, force, violence, threat or intimidation or any act that impairs his free will: and (b) fully adhere to the principles and standards on the absolute condemnation and prohibition of torture set by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and various international instruments to which Nigeria is a State party’”.

  • Electoral Act: Offensive part of Section 84(12) will be deleted immediately – AGF Malami vows

    Electoral Act: Offensive part of Section 84(12) will be deleted immediately – AGF Malami vows

    The Minister of Justice and Attorney General to the Federation, AGF, Abubakar Malami has vowed that based on Court judgment on Friday, the offensive part of Section 84(12) will be deleted and gazetted immediately.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls a Federal High Court sitting in Umuahi had ordered that the offensive part of Section 84 (12) should be expunged from the amended Act.

    Section 84(12) as amended had included that all political appointees must vacate three months from office before vying for any elective position in Nigeria.

    Immediately after the judgment, Malami in a statement on Monday declared that:

    “The office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will accordingly give effect to the Court judgment in line with the dictates of the law and the spirit of the judgment.

    “The judgment of the Court will be recognized by the Government printers in printing the Electoral Act.

    ” The Act will be gazetted factoring the effect of the judgment into consideration and deleting the constitutionally offensive provision accordingly.

    “The provision of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022 is not part of our law and will be so treated accordingly.

    “This is in line with the dictates of chapter 7, Part 4, Section 287 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) on enforcement of decisions that makes it a point of duty and obligation on all authorities and persons to have the judgment of the federal High Court, among others, to be enforced.

  • I’m still in office, no plans to resign yet – Malami tells journalists

    I’m still in office, no plans to resign yet – Malami tells journalists

    The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Thursday told journalists that he has no plans to resign yet as reported by media houses recently.

    The AGF made this disclosure at the annual media conference organised by the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC) held in Abuja.

    The Minister said: “Some unprofessional information disseminators will be taken aback that the Malami that was claimed to have resigned was seen in office discharging his functions including attending the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting yesterday (Wednesday), granting interviews to journalists and still today (Thursday) declaring this conference open as the AGF”.

    He appealed to journalists to refrain from “fake news, defamation, sedition, hate speech, blasphemy, and incitements of inflammatory statements in their reportage.”

    He also urged against being conscripted by “agents of destruction” to spread false information about personalities and issues.

    He warned there would be consequences for the conduct of the journalists that offer themselves to used “by agents of destruction that make it their stock in trade to spread fake information about personalities and issues.”

    “Effective legislative framework may be a considerable option. It is high time that we enhance media literacy for Nigerians to appreciate fact-checking and verification of information”, the Minister stated.

    The Conference, with the theme “The Judiciary and 2023 General Elections: The Way Forward”, and “Stemming the Tide of Conflicting Judgments in Nigeria’s Judicial System, Enforcement of Court Judgments: The Obstacles, the Remedies” as Sub-themes, he said, was intended to enhance the skill of Judiciary Correspondents and facilitate effective discharge of their responsibilities as journalists and important members of the society.

    The AGF said, it has been the desire of the Federal Government to tame the tide of conflicting judgments and implore due diligence in the judicial process.

    “Our struggles in the P&ID case symbolize the due diligence policy of the Federal Government as well as the need to address judgment debt in the interest of the Nigerian public. This has been our position on a number of current national issues”.

    The AGF’s office, he said, always insists on “due diligence, assiduous scrutiny as well as beyond-reasonable-doubt exploration and meticulous examinations in our policy to bequeath the posterity a sound and impeccable precedents in determination of issues. It is unfortunate that these legally recognized processes that we strive to strictly adhere to are misconstrued by mischievous publications to convey negative undertones”.

  • Abba Kyari: I asked for further probe, not exoneration – Malami

    Abba Kyari: I asked for further probe, not exoneration – Malami

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, said he requested for further probe with a view to cover the field in the investigation in order to arrive at informed decision on Abba Kyari.

    Malami said this in a statement issued by his Special Assistant (Media and Public Relations), Dr Umar Gwandu in Abuja.

    According to him, there appears to be a “misunderstanding regarding the issue.”

    ”It was a case of work in progress in respect of which the office of the Attorney General of the Federation requested for further probe in relation to some aspects of investigation.

    “It was clear that the conclusion on the alleged contradiction on the issue was a clear case of misconception.

    ”The office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice’s stance is that no conclusion has been reached in the direction of absence of evidence relating to the first report.