Garba Shehu In Garba Shehu's words, "Under this president and government, this is our mantra and guiding principle. There a...
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| Garba Shehu |
In Garba Shehu's words, "Under this president and
government, this is our mantra and guiding principle. There are no sacred cows,
and for those who think they have a halo over their heads, their days are also
numbered."
If Mr Shehu is to be taken seriously, then surely, the days
of Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, are numbered following
allegations of corruption against the AGF.
The AGF who recently filed a petition against Omoyele Sowore
over publications by SaharaReporters, accusing the him of corruption, is
himself not a free man as human rights lawyer, Kabir Akingbolu, gives President
Muhammadu Buhari 14 days to suspend Malami with immediate effect, over
allegations of corruption and abuse of office.
Akingbolu in a letter to the President advised him to take
the action if his government was serious about the fight against corruption.
According to the lawyer per SR, Malami in 2018 despite the
fact that various lawyers had worked and completed all modalities to recover
the Abacha loot from the United States, ensured the removal of over $16m under
the bogus concept of 10 per cent commission for himself through his cronies.
Akingbolu said, “Everybody in Nigeria cried as much as the
U.S Attorney who acted on behalf of Nigeria in respect of the money, on the
ground the job was already completed and no lawyer needed to do anything again
to justify the commission, but our A.G.F turned a deaf hear and took the money.
“In 2019, Malami discontinued a N25bn criminal charge
against Senator Danjuma Goje without any justification. In June 2020, Malami
withdrew criminal charges against killer soldiers who were charged along with
Wadume, a dreaded kidnapper and an armed robber.
"Continuous act
of giving reckless advice to the Federal Government to disobey court orders,
which necessitated the abnormal detention of Omoyele Sowore, El-Zakzaky, Sambo
Dasuki and a host of others, after competent courts have ordered their release
which acts he unfortunately defended vehemently before the Senate when he went
for his second screening as a minister designate.
“He also allegedly owns the underlisted properties: He owns
a multimillion naira sprawling building Rayhaan Hotels worth about N500m
located opposite Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Zaria Road, Kano State. Another
property worth about N600m located at Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano. A
newly constructed school located at the back of Nitel at Gesse Phase 1, Birni
Kebbi worth about N700m. viii. A multimillion naira property built by Mr Malami
for his son located at Gesse Phase II in Birni Kabbi worth over N400m.
“A mansion known as Azbir Arena built by Mr Malami for his
second son, Azbir located 200 metres away from Malami brother’s mansion. Azbir
Arena an entertainment Centre worth over N3bn, with a big plaza and a kids
playing centre and Hotel all combined in one expansive property.
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| Abubakar Malami |
"Malami used the official letter head of the Federal
Ministry of Justice to invite guests to his son’s wedding as if it was a state
sponsored event. He aided his son at his wedding party reception to deface the
naira to embarrass the nation and this act is against section 21(1) and (3) of
the Central Bank Act, 2007, which provides: A person who tempered with a coins
or notes issued by the Bank is guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be
liable to imprisonment for a term not less than six month or to a fine not less
than N50,000 or both such fine and imprisonment.
“For the avoidance of the doubt, spraying of, dancing or
matching on the naira or any note issued by the bank during social occasions or
otherwise howsoever shall constitute an abuse and defacing of the Naira or such
note and shall be punishable under sub-section (1) of this section. He allowed
COVID-19 protocol and regulations to be breached at his son’s wedding as if he
was above the law thereby putting the lives of Nigerians at risk. Please note
that in Ghana recently, a minister lost his position because he breached Covid19
protocols.”
The lawyer also said he might file a mandamus to compel
Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector-General of Police, to perform his statutory
duties if the government refuses to probe the AGF.
“Thus, if this government decided to keep mum by treating Mr
Malami with kid gloves or a sacred cow, the government should forget its
anti-corruption war song and stop deceiving Nigerians and the whole world. I
hereby unequivocally request, on behalf of Nigerians, that Your Excellency
should suspend Mr Malami with immediate effect and order his probe, either by a
special panel or by the police.
“If, however, the government fails to do this within 14
days, I shall not hesitate to forward a petition to various relevant
international agencies and other civil society organisations that this
government only pays a lip service to corruption fighting in Nigeria. I have
copied the Inspector-General of Police and the Presidential Advisory Committee
on Corruption this letter for their attention.
“If, however, you fail, neglect or refuse to meet this
subtle demand, I shall then be left with no option to file for mandamus to
compel the Inspector-General of Police to perform its statutory duties to
investigate these corrupt practices and all these may embarrass the government
not only in Nigeria but globally."
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