FORGERY: Senate Accuses AGF Of Vendetta, Personal Interest, Sues For Peace

The Senate at a plenary

SENATE on Sunday stated that it has been vindicated by the ruling of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday which chided the Attorney General of The Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubarka Malami (SAN) over the charges filed against the principal officers of the Senate on the ground that it was an abuse of judicial process.

The court, presided over by Justice Gabriel Kolawole said that the action was taken against public interest wondering how a charge could be filed where there is a pending order of the court against such action and threatened to strike out the case if within his powers to do so...

In a statement by its spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Senate said the ruling by
Justice Kolawole has substantiated its position that Mr. Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of theFederation (AGF) was using his official position to settle personal scores against his oath of office noting that the AGF was a counsel to the aggrieved Senators over the issues that emanated during the election of its officers.

However, the upper chamber called on all the parties to embrace peace and move on stating that despite the incarceration, the senate is willing to let go of inconveniences in the overall interest of the nation.

“When the Senate invited the AGF to come and throw light on the forgery case, it was not to challenge his right to file, take over or discontinue any criminal case but for him to explain the issues of conflict of interest, abuse of office, disrespect of a subsisting order of a court and violation of the principle of Separation of Powers which are being raised against him.

“When his supporters jumped up and started abusing the Senate over the invitation, we know our position that an Attorney General and indeed any public officer for whose office public funds are appropriated can be invited by the Senate and the House of Representatives to explain certain issues is on firm, constitutional ground. And that is in spite of the that the AGF is responsible to the President who appointed him. Now, the revelations from the ruling of the court of competent jurisdiction have shown that this AGF has a lot to explain to the public, if not to the one who appointed him.

“It says a lot about an AGF who despite being aware that the court had ordered him and the Inspector of General of Police not to take any further action on the matter during the pendency of the civil suit still went ahead to initiate the criminal case on the Police report which is the subject of the civil case. The judge rightly described Malami’s action as ‘desperate haste that was not in public interest’.

“It should be noted that Malami’s name is still on the list of lawyers defending Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi and others in the Federal High Court. We invite all Nigerians, including those shouting over whether it was right for Senate to invite the AGF or not, to read the of Justice Kolawole and conclude whether Malami is still fit to be AGF in a government which canvasses change and rule
of law.

“Our position as a law making chamber is that the Office of AGF is a sensitive and strategic one being the only other office in the executive arm apart from that of President and Vice President to which the constitution specifically assigns some roles and powers. It must therefore be occupied by a sober, law abiding, brilliant, mature, broad-minded and less partisan lawyer. Mr. Malami is yet to convince us with his handling of this case that he possesses these attributes. We call on him to respect the ruling of the court and to redeem the integrity of his office and admit his error by invoking his power under Section 174 (1) as noted in the ruling of the honourable judge.

“In conclusion, the Senate is calling on all parties, Mr. Malami, the Attorney General inclusive, to heed the wise, timely and apt advice of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that ‘it is time to move on’.  Truly, Nigeria needs our collective energy to address the various challenges – notably increasing poverty, hunger, youth unemployment, general insecurity and kidnapping, among others – which are time bombs that we can only ignore at our own collective peril.”  Abdullahi said.