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TI Allegations Baseless, Frivolous, Cheap Blackmail, Says Malami
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, on Friday, took on Transparency International (TI) over the latter’s allegations of compromise by Malami in the fight against corruption in the country.
Malami, who said he found such allegations as not only a cheap blackmail but false, frivolous and baseless, added that it is an attempt by TI to cover up for its “biased and illogically cooked up 2019 Corruption Perception Index with poor rating of Nigeria”.
The organization, in the report recently released, did not only score Nigeria low in the fight against corruption, but went further to indict the AGF as interfering in the prosecution of some high cases such as the Malabu Oil case, former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and former Gombe State Governor Danjuma Goje.
The AGF, who spoke through the Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Dr Umar Gwandu, said contrary to the claim of TI, he is not only committed to Buhari’s anti-corruption war but that he has been instrumental to the successes recorded by all anti-corruption agencies in the country.
“If the AGF had watered down corruption cases since he assumed office as maliciously claimed in the report, then all the convictions on corruption cases recorded by the EFCC would have been taken over and stopped by the AGF using his constitutional power of Nolle Prosequi.
“However, the AGF allowed the EFCC to thrive well due to his total commitment to the fight against corruption in line with the manifesto of President Muhammadu Buhari. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has a historical record of going to the court personally and defending the nation in matters of public national interest including the cases of labour union crises and the processes of deepening democratic ideals in the country,” he stated.
Regarding the case of Malabu Oil, the AGF claimed that he has never at any time stopped any person or authority from prosecuting anyone suspected of crime.
“The AGF has unequivocally maintained that all persons indicted by the EFCC’s investigation report as regards the OPL 245 (Malabu) be prosecuted in accordance with the relevant laws.
“The AGF has, further, maintained that the investigation should be watertight and intensified to ensure that all essential elements of the alleged offences are established through a thorough and detailed investigation before proceeding to court with a view to filing success-driven charges against the suspects.
“It is common knowledge that since the EFCC filed charges against the suspects in Malabu Oil case before both the Federal and FCT High Courts, the AGF has not at any time approached either of the courts to withdraw the charges even though he has the power to do so pursuant to Section 174 of the Constitution.
“The assertion that the AGF misled the President that there is no case in the Malabu Oil deal is not only laughable but ridiculous and should therefore be disregarded by the right-thinking members of the general public,” the statement read.
The media aide further noted that the AGF is pursuing traces of crime in relation to Malabu OPL 245 in Switzerland and Netherlands, adding that the AGF remains resolute in looted assets recovery and the general fight against corruption.
“As regards the allegation that the AGF stopped the prosecution of former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, for allegedly forging the Senate rules to conduct the election of principal officers of the Senate. It is important to state that for securing conviction on any crime, investigation must be done to be able to establish the essential ingredients of the offence.
“It is a fundamental principle of criminal justice administration in all climes that you do not file criminal charges where investigations have not revealed prima facie case against the suspects and Nigeria is not an exception.
“As to the allegation of withdrawal of the corruption case of N25 billion against former Gombe State Governor, Senator Danjuma Goje; the first point of correction is that the AGF did not withdraw a N25 billion case.
“The EFCC had filed a 2-count charge of N8 billion against Senator Goje and had been prosecuting same for over eight (8) years without the AGF’s interference but after a No Case Submission filed by Senator Goje, 19 of the 21 counts making up the N8 billion were struck out by the court leaving only two counts bordering on the manner in which the sale of some old buses belonging to Gombe State Transport Company between 2003 and 2011 were handled under the watch of Senator Goje.
“It was the said last two counts that the AGF thoroughly reviewed in 2019 and having found no prima facie case, withdrew in exercise of his constitutional power pursuant to Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution,” Gwandu stated.
He however said that notwithstanding the unfair rating of Nigeria by TI and the unguarded utterances of individuals who appeared to be a new voice of Nigeria opposition parties, the administration of President Buhari remains committed more than ever to the fight against corruption and other crimes in Nigeria.
El-Rufai said his life started having a meaning when he married Hadiza about 40 years ago.
In his birthday wish to Hadiza, the Social Democratic Party, SDP, chieftain described his wife as a bundle of beauty and brain.
Posting on his Facebook page, El-Rufai recalled meeting Hadiza during his university days.
He described her as the best wife, mother, and grandmother.
He wrote: “Please join me and members of the El-Rufai Family to wish my best friend, university classmate, teenage sweetheart and dearest wife, Hadiza Isma El-Rufai a very happy birthday.
“Hadiza is a bundle of brains, beauty and brawn, holder of three masters’ degrees – in architecture, business administration, and creative writing – fluent in French and a published novelist.
“My life began to have meaning when we married nearly 40 years ago.
“She is a taskmaster and disciplined organizer of our home and our lives.
“Happy birthday, Hadiza and God Bless you forever more. – Nasir @elrufai”
The victims were said to be travelling from Zaria in Kaduna State for a wedding in Quan Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State when they were intercepted by the mob at Mangun district.
The travelers were killed instantly, while several others sustained various degrees of injuries during the attack.
Expressing shock and sadness over such an act of savagery, Governor Sani, in a statement, called on security agencies to immediately arrest and prosecute those behind the attack.
He vowed that the Kaduna State Government would not leave a stone unturned until the criminals were hunted down and brought to justice.
The governor said, “We must put a stop to the nefarious activities of non-state actors. There is no justification for anybody to attack any citizen of Nigeria in any part of the country. This madness must stop. Enough is enough”.
Governor Sani, therefore, appealed to his Plateau State counterpart, Caleb Mutfwang, to use the unfortunate incident to make a bold statement by taking full charge of the situation and directing the operations of security agencies until the murderers are brought to justice.
The governor promised to personally follow up on the progress made in the investigations and field operations in search of the criminals to send a clear signal that impunity will no longer be tolerated.
He, however, called on the citizens of Kaduna State to remain calm, stating that all hands are on deck to ensure that the victims get justice.
Sani also consoled the families of the victims over the loss of their loved ones.
He said, “We have made remarkable progress in peacebuilding and conflict transformation in Kaduna State. The Kaduna Peace Model is a pointer to the fact that with political will, commitment, and sincerity of purpose, a toxic environment can be turned into an ‘oasis of peace’.
“The situation in Plateau State is not irredeemable. The bloodshed must stop. Our deepest condolences to the families of our citizens who lost their precious lives in Mangu Local Government. I am in touch with the families of the victims. We shall do all in our power to lessen their pains. We shall also ensure that the injured victims receive adequate medical attention. May the gentle souls of our departed citizens rest in perfect peace”.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, Akume visited the Tor Tiv James Ortese Ayatse, and the Och’Idoma, John Elaigwu Odogbo, at their palaces in Makurdi and Otukpo, respectively.
The consultations, aimed at fine-tuning modalities for the speedy implementation of the president’s directive, which followed his condolence and solidarity visit to the state on Wednesday in the wake of a deadly attack in Yelewata that reportedly claimed over 200 lives.
Senator Akume informed both traditional rulers of their inclusion on the Peace Committee as mandated by President Tinubu.
He emphasised the need for swift consensus-building toward an inclusive and effective committee capable of restoring peace and stability to the troubled region.
According to him, the President is gravely concerned about the impact of continued violence on Benue’s status as Nigeria’s agricultural powerhouse and a critical driver of national food security.
The SGF expressed gratitude to the royal fathers for their roles in warmly receiving the president during his recent visit and urged them to ensure the traditional institution remains active in securing local communities.
Both the Tor Tiv and the Och’Idoma commended the Federal Government’s intervention and pledged their full commitment to the peace-building process. The SGF was accompanied on the visits by several prominent Benue figures.
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