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Tag: Malami

  • How Buhari cleared mess of past administrations in one year – Malami

    How Buhari cleared mess of past administrations in one year – Malami

    Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) has said that recovered loots are being spent by the Federal Government on capital projects, anti-terrorism campaign and social intervention programmes.

    The minister listed the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Kano-Abuja Highway and the Second Niger Bridge as some of the capital projects.

    Malami said in one year, the Buhari government had “cleared the mess of the past government by fighting against terrorism.”

    The minister also said recovered funds were used for social intervention programmes, including school feeding and N-Power.

    Malami, who featured on a programme aired by Radio Kano on Monday, attributed the recovery of loots and assets to President Buhari’s radical approach to the anti-corruption fight.

    He said corrupt government officials were not spared because the war against graft was no respecter of persons.

    His words: “The money recovered from looted assets, especially those that were kept abroad, were used judiciously and are all visible to Nigerians.

    “Some of the projects that were carried out with that money include the Kano-Abuja Highway, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Second Niger Bridge – which was abandoned many years ago, and other projects like school feeding programmes, the agricultural input support, N-Power, and many others.

    “The fight against corruption has recorded tremendous success also. This administration did not even favour members of its cabinet whenever found guilty.

    “Many people were convicted on several corruption allegations and nobody intervened to favour or influence the process.

    “This has really helped in the recovery of many looted assets and that is what we are using in many of our capital projects.

    ”It equally helped in the fight against insecurity because that past administration looted huge amount of money that was meant for the fight against terrorism.

    “But we came and cleared all their mess. So, we did what they were not able to do in one year.”

    Malami said in 2015 when the present administration came on board, 17 local government areas in the Northeast under the control of insurgents, were recaptured.

    He stressed: “The time we came, there were over 17 local governments in the Northeast that were under the control of the Boko Haram terrorists. There were attacks everywhere in the region. But, we were able to recover the 17 local governments, restore peace, build houses for IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons), and many more.”

  • EFCC opens investigation into tape alleging Buhari’s minister influences corruption cases

    EFCC opens investigation into tape alleging Buhari’s minister influences corruption cases

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced an investigation into a trending audio tape alleging that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, influences corruption cases.

    In the tape, an operative of the anti-graft agency, Mohammed Idris, accused the justice minister of compromising graft cases.

    “Malami now controls the EFCC. The commission is in his hands. Once Malami speaks, the account will be unfrozen. They are unfreezing suspects’ accounts, including the big cases,” EFCC operative was heard saying in one of the multiple audio recordings obtained by Daily Nigerian.

    But the EFCC in a statement on its verified Facebook page on Thursday said it would activate its internal mechanism to deal with the issues arising therefrom.

    “Without prejudice to the outcome of the investigation, snippets of the audio recording clearly showed an abysmally compromised officer dropping names to ingratiate his benefactor, a relative of a crime suspect,” the statement read.

    “By the alleged action, the said officer is no more than a corrupt fifth columnist with scant regard for the values of the commission.

    “The action is contemptuous of the established Standard Operating Procedure of the EFCC. Such professional indiscretion has no place in the new EFCC.

    “The commission encourages citizens who encounter any such unprofessional conduct by personnel of the EFCC to report to the commission in support of our quest to build a better agency.”

    “Reporting such conducts has been made easy by the Eagle Eye App, a financial crime reporting application which was launched earlier in the year,” Uwujaren further stated.

    According to the EFCC, its operations were guided by established professional precepts “which do not support the kind of discretion that could allow for manipulation by external actors.”

  • Direct primaries: Malami cautions Buhari against assenting electoral bill, gives reasons

    Direct primaries: Malami cautions Buhari against assenting electoral bill, gives reasons

    The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has written President Muhammadu Buhari on the challenges that may be associated with the inclusion of mandatory direct primaries in the Electoral Act amendment bill.

    According to reports, the AGF in letter to the president about two weeks ago advised the president that making direct primaries mandatory for all political parties could cause confusion.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, confirmed that the President had received a communication from Malami on the bill.

    He however said he was not privy to the content of the letter.

    “Yes. I can confirm that the President has received a communication from the honourable minister on the matter but honestly, I am not privy to the content of the communication. I have not been briefed,” the presidential aide told Punch Newspapers.

    Meanwhile, a source at the Ministry of Justice said the minister highlighted the grey areas of the bill in his letter to the president. “The AGF has sent his advice on the Electoral Act amendment bill to the President. He has highlighted the problems of the bill.

    “The AGF, however, did not quote any section of the law that makes it illegal which is unlike the previous letters he writes to the President.”

    Another source close to the AGF said he (Malami) was worried that forcing all parties to adopt the direct mode of primary would mean that all existing parties would have to change their constitutions.

    The source stated, “The office of the AGF sent its position two weeks ago. They raised a number of issues. For instance, if you are asking political parties to run direct primaries, from a strictly legal point of view that would mean that only new political parties will be bound by the law.

    “Existing political parties will not, because they have registered their parties, they have filed their constitution long time ago on the basis of what is contained there. And most of it is a mixture, if you check the parties, direct and indirect primaries are stated.

    “So, are you going to change their constitutions for them? So, this is the legal opinion. But this is just one. There are several other legal positions which favours and disfavours the bill because, as the Minister of Justice, his duty is to tell the president the pros and the cons. It is now up to the President to decide on which way to go.”

  • AGF Malami to launch virtual court sitting facilities

    AGF Malami to launch virtual court sitting facilities

    Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN is to launch nationwide deployment and use of Virtual Court Proceedings in Nigeria’s Correctional Centres.

    This was announced on Friday in a statement signed by Umar Gwandu, Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

    According to the statement, Malami is to launch the pilot project for the deployment and use Virtual Court Sitting facilities at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja on Monday.

    “Expected at the occasion are the Honourable Minister of Interior; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Controller – General of the Nigerian Correctional Service; Halilu Nababa as well as members of the Presidential Committee on Correctional Reforms and Decongestion.

    “The Secretary of the Presidential Committee on Correctional Reforms and Decongestion, Leticia Ayoola-Daniels working with the representative of the supporting organization; Mrs. Oyinye Ndubuisi of the UNDP are working assiduously to ensure the achievement of the laudable project,” the statement read in part.

    Gwandu added that the initiative is one of the strategic interventions by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and indeed the Federal Government towards engendering lasting reforms in the Criminal Justice Sector in Nigeria.

    According to the statement, the development is part of the process to implement the Post-Covid-19 Justice Sector Plan marshaled out by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice in April 2020.

  • Why FG can’t consider request for state pardon for Nnamdi Kanu – Malami

    Why FG can’t consider request for state pardon for Nnamdi Kanu – Malami

    The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has revealed why the Federal Government may not consider the mounting request from the South East leaders to grant state pardon to the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

    “Pardon is a function of conviction in the Nigerian context and as far as I know, Nnamdi Kanu has not been convicted yet so the idea of pardoning him is premature,” the AGF said on Wednesday on a monitored Channels Television programme.

    Buttressing his point, the minister stated that the trials associated with Kanu have not been concluded and as such the pardon option cannot get on the table just yet.

    While stressing that he is not ruling the option out, Malami, however, noted that pardoning Kanu is not on the table at the moment.

    Reacting to a question regarding the IPOB leader’s pardon being an option for peace in the South East, the AGF said he is yet to assess the security implications of such a decision.

    Nonetheless, the Minister of Justice declared that the best interest of the public would be a major consideration if the opportunity avails itself for a pardon to be given to the IPOB leader.

    Malami’s comments come a few days after leaders from the South East met with President Muhammadu Buhari to plead for Kanu to be pardoned.

    While addressing the leaders, who visited him under the aegis of Highly Respected Igbo Greats, Buhari said the plea for Kanu’s release is an extremely difficult demand on him as leader of this country.

    The president said, “the implication” is very serious. An unconditional release of Kanu, who is standing trial, according to the President, runs contrary to the doctrine of separation of powers between the executive and judiciary.
    Stressing his policy of non-interference with the Judiciary, he said when Kanu jumped bail, got arrested, and was brought back to the country.

    “I said the best thing was to subject him to the system,” Buhari added.

    President Buhari further stated that Kanu should go make his case in court instead of giving very negative impressions of the country from outside.

  • Raid on Justice Odili’s residence: There are 36 Attorney Generals in Nigeria, I can’t be the one he is referring to, Malami distances self again from suspect claiming to be working for him

    Raid on Justice Odili’s residence: There are 36 Attorney Generals in Nigeria, I can’t be the one he is referring to, Malami distances self again from suspect claiming to be working for him

    The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has again denied any involvement in the controversial siege on the home of a Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Odili.

    He also spoke about a suspect – Lawrence Ajodo, who said he had worked previously with the AGF.

    The minister stated this on Sunday when he appeared as a guest on a Television programme.

    “I have never given him a single case and if I have given him 29 cases, let him show the evidence of the engagement,” Malami said, adding: “I have never seen this man on earth, God knows and I believe there are certain (not only) criminal undertones, perhaps maybe some other undertones, by people who think that by hook or by crook the AG must be a target of aggression one way or the other”.

    Malami further claimed that the suspect is not under the pay record of his ministry and even if he was, he would not carry out operations that are outside the scope of the ministry.

    “Government business is regulated through due processes and procedures. So, you cannot be seen to be operating as a department under the office of the Attorney General and then operating outside the scope and regulations of the law.

    “So, you can see clearly, the man said he was asked by the Attorney General to carry out that task. Ask him, which of the Attorneys-General and on account of which formal engagement?

    “There are 36 Attorneys General across the nation inclusive of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation. So, if he said he has been sent by the Attorney General, the next point is to ask him, who is the Attorney General”.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Justice Odili’s home was raided on October 29. But questions about who initiated the incident have remained unanswered.

    Initially, there were reports that the EFCC had gone to execute a search warrant, as part of investigations into her husband, former Governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili.

    But the commission, through its Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, denied the allegation, saying “none of our operatives was there”.

    This, then raised further questions as to who gave the orders for the said siege.

    One of the key suspects had fingered Malami as the one who ordered the raid but the AGF in an earlier istatement denied having any involvement in it.

    “Mr Ajodo’s case is that of a drowning man scavenging for a dying partner,” a statement signed by a spokesperson in the office of the AGF, Umar Gwandu, had said.

     

  • Justice Odili: Malami speaks after suspect who staged raid confessed working for him

    Justice Odili: Malami speaks after suspect who staged raid confessed working for him

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has distanced himself from a suspect arrested over the siege of Justice Mary Odili’s home.

    The suspect, Lawrence Ajodo, was paraded by the police on Thursday alongside 13 others.

    He claimed to work as a consultant for the office of the AGF.

    However, the police said their investigations revealed that “there is no involvement at all” of the officials of the office of the AGF in the raid.

    Ojodu and the other suspects, the police said, “are loose cannons” who forged “different documents” and carried out their “crimes under false representations.”

    According to a statement signed by a spokesperson in the office of the AGF, Umar Gwandu, Mr Ajodu’s case is that “of a drowning man scavenging for a dying partner.”

    “The attention of the Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been drawn to a confession of a suspect during interrogation in the investigation of the recent invasion of the residence of the highly respected Justice of the Supreme Court; Justice Mary Peter Odili,” the statement said.

    “With all the competent, high level professionals and capable human resources available at the disposal of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, it only takes the imagination of the evil minds to assume or think that the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will descend so low to engaging a quack or fake police officer to serve as his consultant.

    “This is a case of a drowning man scavenging for a dying partner. We are happy to note that investigation has commenced to unravel the circumstances and personalities behind the invasion and sponsored campaign of calumny against the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

    “It is our desire and we hope that the investigation would also disclose those after the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, those dragging his personality, his name and his exalted office in the dirty politics of disrepute. This is an orchestrated attempt to stir unnecessary controversies and Public apprehension.

    “We asked the suspect to present documents of engagements where he worked as a consultant to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, whether in past or now.

    “Consultant for what? Which activity or assignment? When was he engaged? What were the terms of references for the alleged consultancy service? When was he engaged? Where was he engaged? Which worked has he executed for the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and the Ministry of Justice? For what duration? And for how much?

    “We boldly and unequivocally challenge the fake consultant/police officer to come out with answers or responses to these questions to the general public.

    “The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice superintends over and respects the rule of law who will not do anything to undermine the sanctity of his office and that that entire judiciary and Justice sector.”

  • Governors tackle Malami for supporting consultants in $418m Paris Club Payments

    Governors tackle Malami for supporting consultants in $418m Paris Club Payments

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Monday said the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation (HAGF), Abubakar Malami, was working against the public’s interest by insisting on the payment of $418 million to private consultants from the accounts of state governments.

    The consultants are claiming a percentage of Paris Club refunds as payment of services they said they rendered to the states and local government.

    The Federal Government had determined to pay the consultants from state accounts but a Federal High Court on Friday restrained it from making such deductions until all issues relating to that matter were fully determined.

    In a statement signed by the spokesman of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Umar Gwandu, on Friday, the AGF suggested the states and local governments had acted in bad faith for taking the case to court.

    The deductions were ratified by several court judgements, the AGF said, and the Federal Government only had to step in to avoid forfeiting any of its assets, since it was also a defendant in the lawsuits against the states.

    But on Monday, the NGF, in a statement signed by its spokesperson Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, said the AGF’s actions “raises questions of propriety and the spirit of justice.”

    “The HAGF is supposed to be the chief arbiter in all matters concerning Nigerians, especially the poor masses of this country. It is incumbent upon him to, not just ensure that justice is done, but that justice is seen to have been done,” the statement said.

    “The undue haste, with which the statement was issued even before the service on the AGF of the court processes and the order dated 5th November, 2021 restraining the Federal Government, seems to suggest that there is a special relationship between the Office of the AGF and the consultants over and above Nigerian citizens, whose interest the AGF as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation is statutorily bound to always protect. The statement also suggests that the restraining order issued last Friday not only unsettled preconceived plans and angered the unnamed ‘government officers’ referred to by the media aide.

    “The media aide to the AGF justifies the deductions on the basis that they are made pursuant to four court judgments; two of which are consent judgments and/or that the NGF/States and LGAs consented, expressed no objection to the payments and had already paid part of the debts to the said contractors and consultants. The statement by the media aide to the HAGF however conveniently and deliberately failed to name the judgments under reference and whether they are on appeal or challenged in any other way. He also failed to specify which of the four judgments authorized payments and in what proportion to each of the contractors.

    “While it is very easy to argue as the AGF does, that the NGF and ALGON took no early steps to appeal as they should have done, it is important to inform the Nigerian public that State governors have since appealed and are challenging the judgments in various courts. Interestingly the AGF has been served all these processes, nevertheless, this was ignored and payment was authorized to be made and has been processed with unprecedented speed not common in the public service. It must be stated that between the NGF and AGF, the latter is in more vantage constitutional position and has a legal responsibility and burden to defend public interest. The AGF should have therefore initiated appeals against the said judgments once his attention was drawn to them, because public interest was at stake involving huge sums of money meant for the provision of public services. It must be noted that the state governments were not parties to any of the said judgments. It should be further stated that the Office of the AGF failed to professionally defend the cases leading to those judgments and the courts commented on that unprofessional attitude.

    “While we are constrained not to comment on a subject which is sub-judice, we have a responsibility to the public to respond in some detail to the statement issued by the Office of the AGF in order to put the records straight. Any discerning legal mind would find no difficulty in concluding that the so-called judgments under reference are dripping with too many irregularities bordering on competence and lack of jurisdiction which are the bases why some of them are being challenged on appeal and in other courts. No diligent public officer would act on such judgments by recommending payment.”

    The NGF also noted that the AGF had recommended payments to some contractors allegedly based on judgments that did “not make any monetary award or on claims that were struck out.

    “The AGF may need to explain to Nigerians why these particular judgment debts are given unusual attention and priority and processed with supersonic speed over and above all others; some of which preceded these so-called judgments and have been pending for settlement by the AGF for several years.

    “While it is convenient to say that part of these judgment debts have been paid with the release of USD$86,546,526.65 and N19,439,225,871.11 in 2016 and $100m in 2018 to the contractors with the concurrence of the NGF; that does not detract from the fact that they were payments wrongly made which ought not to have been made even if they were products of consent Judgments. States can still go after the contractors to recover the funds wrongly made. It should concern the HAGF that ALGON disowned the contracts claimed by RIOK and the same was duly communicated to him requesting him to prevent the use of LG funds to ‘settle dubious and illegal claims’

    “Was the AGF not concerned that several contractors are laying claim to legal fees for the same Paris Club Refund? Was it lost on the AGF on the detailed procedure available under the law how legal fees can be claimed in deserving cases?

    “One of the strange payments made is that of USD$47,831,920 million to Panic Alert Security Systems Ltd/George Uboh for allegedly reviewing a 16-page judgment for the then factional NGF. Can the Office of the HAGF point to any consent judgment awarding that sum to PANIC Alert? Did the NGF’s letter of 20th January, 2020 relied upon by the HAGF ever recommend the payment of any sum?

    “LINAS and NED Nwoko in this scheme are walking away with US$68,658,193.83 state funds allegedly for legal consultancy services. Is the AGF not aware that the work alleged to have been done by him was already contained in a FAAC Reconciliation Committee Report constituted in 2005 submitted in 2007 with recommendations on how states and LGAs should be refunded the over charges from the Paris Club Refunds.

    “Dr. Ted Iseghohi-Edwards has been paid the sum of USD$159m in promissory notes, yet he had his matter in Suit No FCT/HC/CV/1353/18 struck out on November 10th, 2020. Furthermore, the legal basis for his claim is rooted in SUIT NO FHC/ABJ/CS/130/13: LINAS INTERNATIONAL LTD & 235 ORS V FGN which clearly stated that he cannot benefit under the judgment because he was not a party in the case and cannot enforce the terms of the judgment. Contrary to the representation of the AGF, the EFCC’s report on TED was negative. The report not only recommended his arrest but a forfeiture of any of his assets associated with the Paris Club Refund. The AGF ignored these recommendations.

    “RIOK to whom the AGF supports and recommends the payment of USD$142,028,941.95 was also excluded by Justice Ademola in the Judgment in the LINAS case. This was confirmed by the Court of Appeal in Appeal No CA/558/2017. That is the appeal now before the Supreme Court (SC). Which Judgment then is the basis of the AGF recommendation that RIOK be paid the sum of $142,028,941.95. There is also no evidence of execution of any contract by RIOK. Curiously, the Department of State Security (DSS) is alleged to have confirmed 50% execution. The Court and EFCC stated clearly that it is not the responsibility of the DSS to ascertain the execution of contracts as they do not have the expertise. ALGON disowned the contracts. Why will the AGF insist on them? It is not true that the EFCC in its report recommended payment to the contractors. It did not.

    “In the case of payments recommended and paid to Prince Orji Nwafor Orizu US$1,219,440.45, and Olaitan Bello – US$215,195.36, it remains a mystery. These two lawyers are alleged to have performed legal services for RIOK and its associated companies and not for the states or LGAs. Why they are paid from State resources is only imagined.

    “The AGF also claims he intervened to pay the contractors to avoid execution of the judgments against the federal government resources. That is absolutely not true at all. Assets of the FGN were not at any time threatened. The NGF is not aware that there is any existing mandamus issued by any court in favour of the contractors against the Federal Government. The only application for mandamus by PANIC Alert is pending for hearing at the Federal High Court and parties have since joined issues.

    “The AGF also says that the NGF and LGAs seek to transfer their liability to the FGN. That is not true. There is no liability to transfer in the first place and none exists; neither has the NGF provided any undertaking or indemnity to the FGN to act on its behalf as represented by the AGF.

    “The AGF has consistently stated that this administration is an avid respecter of the rule of law. This is one case in which this commitment should be fully and completely demonstrated. Let the AGF remain neutral and protect scarce public resources. Let him advice the contractors to wait until all appeals and litigations in court are concluded. That is the true test of observing the rule of law. There is no other way, uncomfortable as that would appear. State resources needed for critical development should not under any guise be frittered away as payments for contracts whose veracity and authenticity is still a subject of litigation and disputation. These contractors are impecunious and cannot restitute the states/LGAs if the appeals or other litigation are determined against them.

    “We call on the general public to be alert and vigilant. The debt relief granted Nigeria by the Paris Club in 2005 was meant to enable her have a respite and use the resources saved for meaningful development. It was not for distribution to private persons to fund their luxurious lives; neither can Nigeria justify her borrowing funds all over the world to fund capital projects and turn round to disburse state resources to individuals in a manner that offends all public sensibilities.

    “We urge all those appointed as gatekeepers to our laws to ensure that the laws of our land are respected and protected. Let professionalism, reasonable caution and due diligence prevail on this matter, please.”

  • $418m: No arbitrary deduction from states, LGs – Malami

    $418m: No arbitrary deduction from states, LGs – Malami

    The Federal Government has denied engaging in arbitrary deductions from FAAC allocations to States and Local Governments in its pursuit of settling the $418 million Paris Club loan.

    A statement signed by Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, the Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations to the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), indicated that the deductions were in furtherance of Federal Government’s efforts at offsetting the debt incurred by States and Local Governments in the country.

    Gwandu posited that the media onslaught on what played out at FAAC October meeting that states won’t be able to pay salaries on account of the deductions is far from the truth as the problem is self-induced being a product of contractual negotiation in respect of which NGF and ALGON submitted to judicial decision legitimately entered by their consent.

    “The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation denies any wrongdoing in the steps that have been taken so far to comply with the various court judgements and is also not party or privy to any of the sinister agenda or plots being insinuated in the malicious publications, but maintains that he has a responsibility to protect Federal Government from bearing liability of a judgement debt incurred by Nigerian Governors’ Forum and ALGON which is mischievously being transferred to the Federal Government.

    “It is important and necessary to state, at the onset, that the deductions were on account of four judgements in contention which were delivered at various times in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019. Two of these judgements were Consent Judgements based on Terms of Settlement entered into by NGF in 2017 and 2019. Again, two of the four judgements were based on an earlier judgement delivered by the Federal High Court in 2013.

    “It is, however, amazing that from 2013 to 2021, neither NGF nor ALGON deemed it fit to either challenge or fully comply with any of these judgements. In furtherance of the consent and settlement, the NGF itself made payments in billions to the consultants based on the same judgement it is deriding now,” Gwandu added.

    He further revealed that by various letters addressed to the AGF and Finance Minister, both NGF and ALGON expressed no objection and actually recommended the same set of consultants for the payment of the judgement debts which were initially above $418 million but were reduced to the figure owing to the consistent concessional offer by the consultants.

    It was added that recommendations for payment were made after claims of the consultants were subjected to verifications by both the DSS and EFCC. It was further disclosed that the Federal Government decided to step in owing to the failure of both NGF and ALGON to comply with the judgements and most importantly, to prevent a situation where the debt liability would be transferred to it.

    Gwandu noted that the interest of the Federal Government to intervene in the negotiated settlement was borne out of the fact that the consultants made it a party to the action against NGF and ALGON, the implication of which was that the judgement may be executed against the interest and assets of the Federal Government over liability that was incurred exclusively by NGF and ALGON.

    While insisting that the Federal Government did not act in vacuum before the decision to comply with the existing judgements was taken, Gwandu said it is curious to note that both NGF and ALGON who had actual knowledge of these judgements between 2013 and 2019, consented to their partial compliance and also undertook in 2019 to settle them from their FAAC Allocations, only turned around in 2021 to take steps to challenge the judgements.

    He stated further that the Federal Government had acted on the Undertaking/Indemnity provided by NGF, while the Judgement Creditors had also obtained orders of mandamus compelling the issuance of promissory notes.

    He also noted that the NGF had at various times in 2016 and 2018 received payments from the Federal Government under the guise of legal and consultancy fees related to the same Paris Club refunds.

    “Specifically, NGF was paid US$86,546,526.65 and N19,439,225,871.11 in 2016 and $100 million in 2018. It was, however, convenient at that time not to complain about payment of consultants.

    “Thus, the Federal Government could not fold its arms and watch while the consultants/contractors had already obtained garnishee order absolute attaching the funds of the Federal Government in the Central Bank of Nigeria on account of the fact that the refunds of the Paris Club loans were made by the Federal Government to the States and Local Governments in contempt of an existing court judgements procured against NGF and ALGON by consent”, Gwandu stated further.

  • Justice Odili’s home raid may cost Malami SAN title- NBA president

    Justice Odili’s home raid may cost Malami SAN title- NBA president

    The Nigerian Bar Association has continued to react over the invasion of the Abuja home of Supreme Court Justice, Mary Odili, by agents of the Federal Government last week.

    The President of the NBA, Olumide Akpata, at a special press briefing in Lagos on Friday, described the operation as egregious and the gathering of an ominous cloud over the judiciary, saying it was reminiscent of how operatives of the Department of State Services in 2016 raided the homes of seven judges and how a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen (retd.), was “illegally removed from office,” ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Apata vowed that the NBA would stop at nothing to ensure that those behind the latest operation were unmasked and punished, to put a stop to “the assault on the judiciary.”

    He also noted that if found culpable, it may cost Minister for Justice and Attorney-General of the federation, Abubakar Malami his SAN title.

    Akpata said, “We are calling on the President, the head of the executive government arm of government, to set up an independent panel of inquiry, to look into this assault on the judiciary, which is another arm of government because there is a dark cloud hanging and all fingers are pointing at the executive as being behind this action.

    “It behoves Mr President to step in immediately, to set up this panel of inquiry, which, at the minimum, will have a judicial officer and the NBA involved so that we can get to the bottom of this issue and ask: who gave that instruction?”

    “We note that the Attorney General of the Federation has reportedly agreed to make himself available for investigation. This is consistent with the position of the National Executive Council of the NBA, to the effect that the Attorney General definitely has questions to answer. However, he cannot subject himself to a panel that he sets up. This is why the panel to be set up by the President is very necessary.

    “If the Attorney General is found culpable, then as a lawyer, we will take him before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee and the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee; because if indeed, he is found to have given the directives that led to the invasion of the home of the Justice of the Supreme Court, then he is not fit to hold the office he occupies presently and continue to be the recipient of the privileges the profession has accorded to him.”