TheNewsGuru

Tag: Malami

  • Sunday Igboho slams N500bn suit against Buhari’s minister, DSS

    Sunday Igboho slams N500bn suit against Buhari’s minister, DSS

    Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, (a.k.a Sunday Igboho), who is currently standing trial in Republic of Benin, has filed a N500 billion suit against the Department of State Services (DSS) and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), over the invasion of his Ibadan residence, on July 1, 2021.

    This was contained in an application for an order enforcing his fundamental human rights filed yesterday on his behalf by his lawyers at the Oyo State High Court.
    The suit, according to his lawyers, derived from Order 11, Order XI and XIL of the fundamental human rights enforcement procedure rules 2009, and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court as preserved by section 6 of the 1999 constitution.

    It would be recalled that the DSS operatives had invaded Igboho’s residence in Soka area of Ibadan, between 1a.m. and 3a.m. on July 1, arrested 12 persons and killed two others in a gun duel.

    The DSS paraded the suspects and ammunition which they allegedly claimed was recovered from Igboho’s house.

    But the embattled Yoruba Nation activist denied that he kept ammunition in his house, adding that the secret police was trying to rope him.

    In the suit, Igboho, through his lawyer, Chief Yomi Alliyu (SAN), is seeking orders declaring the invasion as a violation of his fundamental human rights, damage of his property as a violation of his fundamental rights to peacefully own property and wealth as well as N500 billion damages among others.

    The sum was described as “exemplary and/or aggravated damages for breaching the applicant’s fundamental rights in the course of illegal and/or malicious invasion of his residence situate, lying and being at Igboho Villa. No.1, Dalag Street, Off Soka Bus Stop, Soka Area, Off Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ibadan.”

    Igboho is also asking the court for a declaration that it was “oppressive, malicious, arbitrary and grossly unconstitutional for the 2nd & 3rd respondents to invade the residence of the applicant situate, lying and being at Igboho Villa, 1, Dalag Street, Off Soka Bus Stop, Soka Area, Off Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ibadan without announcing who they were and ask the applicant to open his gate but rather shot their way through killing two people including an elderly Imam doing Tahjud (night vigil), shooting at cars thereby destroying them and not sparing animals like cats and dogs in total violation of the intendments of the Fundamental Human Rights’ provision in CFRN, 1999 and African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement), Act, LFN 2010, protecting the-dignity of human person, sanctity of human life and privacy c citizens and their homes.”

    It also urged the court to declare that “the respondents’ resolve in preventing the applicant from propagating his belief in association with other like minds in creating a Yoruba Nation and/or Oduduwa Republic for his Indigenous Yoruba people and hunting him with gun with a view to arresting him dead or alive when he has not called for war in achieving same is against his fundamental rights to freedom of thought, conscience and association since campaign for self-determination is recognized by Nigerian Law and international treaties of organisations to which Nigeria belongs.”

    He prayed the court for an injunction restraining the respondents from arresting, harassing or disturbing him in any way that can violate his fundamental human rights.

  • We’ve not stopped Nigerians from using Twitter- FG

    We’ve not stopped Nigerians from using Twitter- FG

    The Federal Government has told a Federal High Court in Lagos that it has not stopped Nigerians from using social media platform, Twitter, adding that many Nigerians are still using it every day.

    The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and the Federal Government said this in a counter-affidavit they deposed to in response to an originating motion filed by human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that government had on June 4, 2021, suspended Twitter barely two days after the social media platform deleted a tweet by the President, Muhammadu Buhari.

    Amazingly, many Nigerians have bypassed the Twitter suspension by using Virtual Private Network.

    Malami in a statement threatened to prosecute Nigerians still using the platform while the National Broadcasting Commission ordered all radio and television stations to stop using Twitter or picking content from the platform.

    Rights lawyer, Effiong, subsequently sued the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, Malami, and the Federal Government for suspending the social media platform.

    In the fundamental human rights suit marked FHC/L/CS/542/2021, Effiong is seeking nine reliefs, including an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from further suspending, deactivating or banning the operation and accessibility of Twitter or any other social media service in Nigeria because the act was in violation of his rights.

    Effiong asked the court to declare as illegal the threat of criminal prosecution by Malami and Lai Mohammed against Nigerians who ‘violate’ the suspension or ban of Twitter, despite the absence of any written law.

    In an affidavit deposed to by Mr Ilop Lawrence on behalf of the Federal Government and the AGF, it was stated that the suspension of Twitter was not an abuse of human rights because Nigerians were still using Twitter despite the suspension.

    It read in part, “The applicant (Effiong) and the class he seeks to represent can still operate those Twitter accounts from anywhere in the world and even from Nigeria. Nigerians are still tweeting, even at this moment as the ban on Twitter is not aimed at intimidating Nigerians or an infringement on the rights of Nigerians to express their opinion.

    “The respondents (Federal Government and AGF) have never stopped the applicant (Effiong) and the class of persons he seeks to represent from voicing their opinions to access government information and offer criticism where necessary.”

    The government told the court that Nigerians are still free to use other platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Tiktok and others.

    The Federal Government also denied knowledge of Twitter deleting Buhari’s tweet on the Biafra civil which offended many Nigerians.

    It said Twitter had made its platform accessible to elements like Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra; and had supported the #EndSARS protests of October 2020 which was later hijacked by hoodlums.

    The government further stated that Nigerians should direct their irritation at Twitter and not the government because Twitter would not have been suspended if it complied with Nigeria’s laws.

    It further told the court that the Twitter suspension would be lifted once the platform registers with the NBC and the Corporate Affairs Commission.

     

  • Akintoye, Igboho, others submit 27-page petition against Buhari, Malami at ICC

    Akintoye, Igboho, others submit 27-page petition against Buhari, Malami at ICC

    The Leader of Ilana Omo Oodua, Emeritus Professor Banji Akintoye; Yoruba Nation Agitator Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho and other 49 Yoruba Self-Determination groups have filed a 27-page petition before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

    Several leaders of Yoruba Self-Determination groups appended their signatures on the petition.

    According to reports, the petition was submitted at the ICC on behalf of Yoruba leaders by an International Lawyer, Aderemilekun Omojola, Esq.

    In the petition, some Nigerian leaders were accused of genocide and crimes against humanity against the Yoruba People of Ekiti, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Okun Land in Kogi, and Kwara States respectively.

    Those dragged before the ICC are President Muhammadu Buhari; Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami; former Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai and former Inspectors General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and Muhammed Adamu.

    Others petitioned are Comptroller General of Customs, Hammid Alli; Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba; Chief of Army Staff, Farouk Yahaya; former Chief of Air Force, Sadiq Abubakar; former Commandant-General of NSCDC, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Services, Mohammed Babandede and the Current Commandant-General of NSCDC, Abdulahi Gana Muhammadu.

    The 27-page petition accused Buhari, Malami, Buratai and others of genocide offences such as killing members of the petitioners group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about physical destruction in whole or in part.

    The ICC has has formally acknowledged receipt of the petition.

    According to a statement by Communications Manager to Akintoye, Maxwell Adeleye, that those who signed the petition with Akintoye and Igboho were Chief Imam of Yoruba in Ilorin, Kwara State, Shielk Raheem Aduranigba; Leader of Obinrin Oodua Agbaye, Chief Simisade Kuku; Leader of Yoruba Strategy Alliance, Babatunde Omololu; General Secretary of Ilana Omo Oodua, Arc. George Akinola, and 44 others.

    In a letter to the petitioners’ Lawyer, the ICC’s Head of Information and Evidence Unit of the Office of the Prosecutor, Mr. Mark P. Dilon, wrote: “As soon as a decision is reached to formally commence investigation into this petition, we will inform you, in writing, and provide you, with reasons for this decision.

    “This communication has been duly entered in the Communications Register of the Office.

    “We will give consideration to this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,” the letter reads.

  • Dunamis: Arrested ‘Buhari Must Go’ youths sue DSS, Malami, Enenche

    Dunamis: Arrested ‘Buhari Must Go’ youths sue DSS, Malami, Enenche

    Five youths detained by the Department of State Services last Sunday for wearing #BuhariMustGo T-shirts at Dunamis Gospel Church, Abuja, have established suits at the Federal High Court, Abuja against the secret police, and the Senior Pastor of the church, Paul Enenche.

    In separate suits, the applicants – Henry Nwodo, Victor Udoka, Emmanuel Larry, Samuel Gabriel and Ben Manasseh – are seeking an order of the court restraining the DSS and other respondents in the suits from violating their fundamental right to freedom of religion, right to freedom of expression and the press as guaranteed under sections 35, 38, 39 and 42 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

    The five applicants want the court to protect their right to freedom from discrimination and right to personal liberty guaranteed under Articles 1, 2, 6, 8 and 9 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP. A9), Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    They also want their immediate and unconditional release from the custody of the DSS.

    The suits are marked FHC/ABJ/CS/631/2021, FHC/ABJ/CS/636/2021, FHC/ABJ/CS/637/2021, FHC/ABJ/CS/638/2021 and FHC/ABJ/CS/639/2021.

    Joining the first and fourth respondents – the DSS and Enenche – in the suits are the DSS Director-General, Yusuf Bichi; and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, as second and third respondents respectively.

    TheNewsGuru could not confirm whether the defendants have been summoned to enter appearance within 30 days of service but no date has been fixed for the suits.

     

  • Malami calls Canadian Justice Minister ‘ignoramus’ for comments on Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest

    Malami calls Canadian Justice Minister ‘ignoramus’ for comments on Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, has tackled the Minister of Justice and Solicitor-General of the Government of Alberta, Canada, Kelechi Madu, for calling him a disgrace to the rule of law.

    Malami, in a clap back on Wednesday, referred to Madu as an “ignoramus” whose views on the re-arrest of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, “are eccentric and weird to the legal profession”.

    In a statement signed by his media aide, Dr Umar Gwandu, Malami, said it was “unfortunate for someone who claims to be a lawyer of a status of a Solicitor General of a provincial State of Alberta in Canada”, to a fault “the internationally recognized manner”, through which Kanu was re-arrested and brought back to the country to face trial.

    Malami tagged the Canadian Justice Minister as a failure that moved out of Nigeria after he could not excel, saying he “failed to keep himself acquainted with the provisions of general laws of the country where he stays as well as international laws”.

    The statement, titled; ‘Nnamdi Kanu: Madu’s views ignoramus, legally eccentric’, read: “Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has described the ideas attributed to one Kelechi Madu as outrageously ignoramus opinions that are eccentric and weird to the legal profession.

    “It is unfortunate for someone who claims to be a lawyer of a status of a Solicitor General of a provincial State of Alberta in Canada to fault the internationally recognized manner through which Nnamdi Kanu who jumped bail was re-arrested and brought back to face trial.

    “It was abundantly clear that bench warrant was lawfully and judiciously procured through judicial process by a competent court of law, whose bail condition Nnamdi Kanu breached with impunity.

    “There was no illegality in the entire process and the question of illegality does not even arise.

    “It is a common principle of the law that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.

    “The self-acclaimed leader of the proscribed group of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has enjoyed representation by counsel of his choice all through the judicial process and was never denied a right of choice of counsel or recourse to one, even when he symbolizes a proscribed association (IPOB) in law, and in fact, his association has been legally proscribed.

    “Where was the so-called Madu when Nnamdi Kanu was inciting violence against the country? Why, as a lawyer, would Madu support a fugitive who jumped bail and accused of terrorism and a treasonable felony? What stopped Madu from voicing out dissent on the atrocities of Kanu and their group?

    “It is important to educate the likes of Keleche Madu that both Nigeria (his country of birth) and Canada (where he claims to be practising law) are signatories to the Multinational Treaty Agreement where, among others, fugitive fleeing justice in nations with the similar agreement could be brought back to face justice.

    “It is a pity that as a Solicitor General of a province, Madu failed to keep himself acquainted with the provisions of general laws of the country where he stays as well as international laws.

    “We wish to draw the attention of Madu to the provisions of Consolidated Act Criminal Code under the Canadian Law R.S., C 1985, c. C-46:1-2 on Treason and other Offences vis:

    “46(1) Every one commits high treason who, in Canada:

    (a) Kills or attempts to kill Her Majesty or does her any bodily harm tending to death or destruction, maims or wounds her, or imprisons or restrains her,

    “(b) Levels war against Canada or does any act thereto; or

    “(C) Assist an enemy at war with Canada or any armed forces against whom Canadian Forces are engaged in hostilities, whether or not a state of war exists between Canada and the country whose forces they are.

    “46(2) Every one commits treason who, in Canada

    “(a) Use force or violence for the purpose of overthrowing the government of Canada or a province,

    “(b) Without lawful authority, communicates or makes available to an agent of a state other than Canada, military or scientific information or any sketch, plan, model, article, note or document of military or scientific character that he knows or ought to know may be used by that state for a purpose prejudicial to the safety of defence of Canada.

    “(c) Conspires with any person to commit high treason or do anything mentioned in paragraph (a)

    “(d ) Forms an intention to do anything that is high treason or that is mentioned in paragraph (a) and manifest that intention by an overt act; or

    “(e) Conspires with any person to do anything mentioned in paragraph (b) or forms an intention to do anything mentioned in paragraph (b) and manifests intention by an overt act.

    “The punishments for treason are also stated in the Canadian Laws R.S.C. 1985, c. C-47:1-4.

    “As the saying goes “an empty vessel makes the loudest noise”.

    “We advise the so-called “learned man” to shelve his arrogance and learn to study the law books before opening his mouth to disgrace himself before the right-thinking members of the society thereby attracting to himself criticism that may propel doubt about his suitability for the job he claims to be doing now, after moving out of his country of origin in which he fails to excel”, Malami stated.

    The Canadian Justice Minister had in a post on his LinkedIn page, said if reports that Kanu was abducted from Kenya were true, Malami was not only a disgrace to the rule of law but also not worthy to be a public officer.

    Madu, who is also the Deputy Government House Leader, maintained that Nigeria and Kenya violated international law in the manner Kanu was extradited, even as he called on world leaders to apply appropriate sanctions.

    While demanding Kanu’s release from detention, Madu, urged the Nigerian government to ensure his safety.

    His post, read in part: “The Attorney-General of Nigeria, Abubakar Malami, is a disgrace to the rule of law and not worthy to be an officer of the court.

    “He has shown himself to be a bigot who does not understand what it means to live in a pluralistic society governed by the dictates of the rule of law”.

  • Buhari’s minister, Malami denies authoring derogatory post on Igbos, Hausas

    Buhari’s minister, Malami denies authoring derogatory post on Igbos, Hausas

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), has refuted claims from some quarters that he authored a derogatory post on Igbos and Hausas.
    A statement issued by Umar Gwandu, his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, said that Malama did not write or contemplate such a post.
    “The Attorney -General of the Federation and Minister of Justice did not write and has never contemplated writing or posting such derogatory remarks or cast aspersions on any tribe or section of the multi-cultural and diverse communities in the country.
    “Malami is known to be a patriotic Nigerian and non-tribal partisan who believes in equality, fairness and justice to all regardless of any inclination to tribe, location or gender,” he said.
    According to Gwandu, the grammatical flaws, apparent illogicalalities and divisionary tendencies as well as lack of respect to diversity in humanity makes it palpably incongruous to believe that the post was from Malami.
    “The office of the Attorney -General of the Federation and Minister of Justice calls on the general public to disregard the post.
    ”It is created and circulated by mischief makers and perveyors of hatred who are bent on destroying the hard-earned reputation of the minister,” Gwandu said.
    He added that it was instructive to note that fact-check conducted by some media organisations proved that attributing the derogatory post to Malami was not only defamatory but also fictitious.
  • #Twitterban: 48hours after, PDP Reps Caucus still walk freely, waiting for Buhari, Malami to effect arrests

    #Twitterban: 48hours after, PDP Reps Caucus still walk freely, waiting for Buhari, Malami to effect arrests

    … nobody has summoned us – Reps
    …as Buhari keep mum over Twitter ban

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    48 hours after Peoples Democratic Party, PDP House of Representatives Caucus declared that they will continue to tweet and they should be arrested not their constituents, President Muhamnadu Buhari and Minister of Justice and Attorney General to the Federation, Abubakar Malami are yet to issue a warrant of arrest.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls that last Tuesday at about 1.27pm members of the PDP caucus after staging a quiet walkout from plenary addressed a press conference declaring that they will continue to tweet and that their constituents which they represent should not be arrested.

    Arrowhead of the caucus, Rep Kingsley Chinda, in his brief had insisted that”do not touch our constituents rather arrest our constituents because you can’t arrest them for an offence they never committed.

    “If you must arrest anybody arrest us because we will continue to tweet but touch not our constituents.

    The lawmakers without any further delay opened Tweeter accounts to make good their threats that they will continue to tweet.

    But on Thursday, during an interview with Arise tv, Buhari cleverly avoided the question on Twitter ban when he was asked to react to it.

    TNG in separate interviews with two top ranking members of the PDP caucus declared that “as you can see we are patiently waiting for them to arrest us but we have not received any notice.

    A ranking lawmaker from the North Central simply told TNG, “yes we stand by our position do not arrest our constituents, if you touch just one of them you touch us all.

    ” We are patiently waiting for them to arrest us and we will prove our 100 percent loyalty to our constituents, they brought us here to right the wrongs not to support pronouncements made without any legal backing.

    Another rep from the south south geo-political zone spoke in a similar vein declaring that”well we have made our position clear on no account should any of our constituents be arrested for tweeting and that aside it’s a mere pronouncement without the force of law.

    ” We are patiently waiting to hear from them on their next line of action or pronouncement.

  • [BREAKING] #Twitterban: Malami orders trial of persons using VPN

    [BREAKING] #Twitterban: Malami orders trial of persons using VPN

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on Saturday, directed the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation to begin speedy prosecution of those who violate the Federal Government’s order suspending Twitter operations in Nigeria.

    Malami’s spokesman, Umar Gwandu, revealed this in a statement titled, ‘Twitter ban: Malami orders prosecution of offenders.’

    Nigerians on Twitter woke up on Saturday finding it difficult to access their Twitter handles while some steered the hurdle using virtual private networks.

    The statement by the AGF read, “Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has directed the immediate prosecution of offenders of the Federal Government ban on Twitter operations in Nigeria.

    “Malami directed the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation at the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, to swing into action and commence in earnest the process of prosecution of violators of the Federal Government De-activation of operations of Twitter in Nigeria.

    “Malami directed the DPPF to liaise with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, National Communication Communication and other relevant government agencies to ensure the speedy prosecution of offenders without any further delay.”

     

  • Malami denies receiving N2bn from recovered loots

    Malami denies receiving N2bn from recovered loots

    The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has denied allegation that N2billion was paid to his office from the recovered looted funds.

    Malami challenged any person who has any evidence of such payments to either him or his office should come out publicly with proofs.

    The AGF, in a statement on Thursday by his media aide, Dr. Umar Gwandu, said all looted funds so far recovered have been applied in accordance with the agreements reached with nations from which the funds are retrieved.

    Gwandu quoted Malami as stating that prior to the repatriation of all the recovered assets, Nigeria and relevant nations signed memorandum of understanding as to what the monies will be put to and the government has been working in compliance with all the provisions of multi-national agreements reached.

    “It was on the basis of the application of the said funds in line with the agreements that Nigeria earns reputation among international committee of nations which translated into further recoveries.”

    He said the Federal Government has a designated account at the Central Bank of Nigeria for all recovered assets.

    Gwandu said Malami has neither, as a person, nor as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, not in any way received any funds from the recovered assets.

  • N2bn illegally paid to Malami from recovered loot

    N2bn illegally paid to Malami from recovered loot

    A house of representatives panel says the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) illegally paid N2 billion to Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), from recovered loot.

    At its sitting on Tuesday, the house ad hoc committee probing the status of recovered loot queried Malami on the funds which they said they never approved as a budgetary allocation.

    The lawmakers cited a letter from the CBN which indicated that the apex bank directed the release of the funds following a request made for the money to be used to prosecute terror suspects.

    They also tackled the minister of justice for allegedly requesting payment of approved solicitors’ fees from the recovered loot.

    Adejoro Adeogun, chairman of the committee, said: “The honourable attorney general of the federation is requesting payment of approved solicitors’ fees. You see, you are asking for solicitors’ fees from recovered funds’ accounts. I don’t think it is proper; that is what we are talking about.

    “The question I want to ask regards to the payment of N2 billion which you received for the prosecution of terrorism suspects; was it supposed to come from that [recovered funds] account or should it have been part of the budgetary spending? Is it that when you exhaust your budget, you ask these people to send you some money?”

    But Malami denied making specific requests from the recovered loot, although he did not deny receiving the said N2 billion from the CBN.

    “Where the money comes from is a function of the federal ministry of finance and I am not making specific requests out of the recovered assets,” he said.

    The lawmakers then presented a letter from the central bank titled, ‘Request for approval to effect critical payments in respect of federal ministry of justice for the recovered (funds)’.

    Adeogun said the letter shows “the attorney-general knows that this is coming from the recovered funds; which means that the attorney-general knows that he is making a request that is against the law”.

    The AGF, however, insisted that the request did not originate from his office.

    “There is nothing indicating a previous correspondence from the office of attorney-general nor is there anything in the opening paragraph making reference to a letter from the office of attorney-general,” he said.

    The panel also raised the alarm over the discrepancies in the records of recovered assets presented by various government agencies.

    According to Adeogun, “the EFCC said they handed over this number of vessels to your office, the navy gives a different number and you have a different number — the same items, different inventories, different figures”.

    Malami responded that he is “not in a position to confirm the discrepancies with the number of assets” and asked the lawmakers to verify so through their oversight roles.