Good legal guidelines and the political will to stick to the grand norms type the premise and basis for a cohesive social order. Good legal guidelines administered by unhealthy males will make no a lot distinction, however good legal guidelines applied by males of noble character can turn out to be the springboard for a prospering society.
The primary demonstration and high quality of a legislation officer is the solemn responsibility of placing nation first. As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Nigeria’s Lawyer Common of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has demonstrated extra time unusual braveness within the discharge of his duties. The core constitutional responsibility of an AGF is to institute and undertake prison proceedings in opposition to any individual earlier than any courtroom of legislation on behalf of the Nigerian State.
Greater than any time in our historical past, AGF Abubakar Malami, in exercising the powers of his workplace as spelt out in Part 174 and 211 of the 1999 Structure (as amended), has continued to uphold due regard for the general public curiosity, the curiosity of justice and the necessity to stop abuse of authorized and due course of.
Maybe, one of many immeasurable demonstrations of Abubakar Malami’s cussed adherence to due course of is within the technique of restoration of Nigeria’s stolen funds and belongings. His authorized acumen helped Nigeria get better large sums stashed in each native and international banks. One among such humongous recoveries is the repatriation of $311 million looted by Sani Abacha from america.
Enemies, inside and outdoors the nation, threw the whole lot to the works to frustrate these restoration, however due to the deft method AGF Malami dealt with the method, the enemies of Nigeria have been put to disgrace and the funds have been repatriated and used for the advantage of Nigerians. Due to his experience, the federal authorities didn’t want to interact any third occasion within the repatriation of the stolen public funds. The transparency and accountability within the dealing with of the method, resulting in the repatriation of the cash show one factor concerning the AGF: that he’s a person of character with utmost respect for the rule of legislation.
Underneath his watch, Nigeria at present has no identified political prisoner and for the primary time since 1999. Gone have been the times of arbitrary arrest and detention with out trial. The landmark political reforms the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has achieved can’t be divorced from the authorized dexterity and large inputs and initiative of AGF Malami’s Workplace. Step by step, we’re witnessing the recalibration of our justice system from the period of democratic impunity to 1 that’s clear and adheres strictly to the rule of legislation.
Within the face of alarming enhance of incidences of rape, AGF Malami has risen to the event by revealing plans to determine particular courts for the speedy trial of rape instances. There was a surge within the variety of rape instances. The Inspector-general of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, had revealed that 717 rape instances have been recorded inside seven months.
In a bid to reform administrative system, to be able to reduce official corruption, Nigeria has continued to witness landmark reforms below AGF Malami’s watch. One among such breath-taking initiative was the manager order looking for to implement monetary autonomy for the state legislature and judiciary. Malami has vowed that no quantity of stress from any quarter will dissuade authorities from its implementation.
The authorized devices AGF Malami has continued to enact are all aimed toward correcting age-long wrongs which have stored Nigeria in drawback place. The AGF is able to dare a terrain that’s most dreaded. As an example, he has vowed to prosecute Nigerians refusing to pay tax on their properties in international international locations and has additionally warned banks or intermediaries which can be discovered to be serving to any citizen conceal international properties, the contravention of which can appeal to a advantageous equal to the price of the property.
Apprehensive by the misplaced grounds of the courts as a result of risk of the COVID-19 pandemic, the minister keyed into info communications know-how (ICT) as a device the judiciary may use to cowl the “misplaced grounds.
One would marvel if AGF Malami will not be as dedicated to the success of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Subsequent Degree Agenda, given his lengthy file of loyalty and friendship with the president. He was the Nationwide Authorized Adviser of the CPC. That was not solely the occasion that proved his steadfast loyalty to Buhari.
The check of his dedication and loyalty crystallised within the presidential election petition that was instituted after the 2011 election by which the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) declared Dr Goodlcuk Ebele Jonathan because the winner.
At a time very many senior legal professionals have been reluctant to tackle Buhari’s transient, scores of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) represented Jonathan and the INEC whereas solely three SANs represented Buhari, to wit: Malami, Oladipo Okpeseyi and the late James Ocholi. Okpeseyi was the chief of the authorized crew.
Though Malami has suffered affronts from traducers, proper from when he was named the minister of justice and attorney-general of the federation, he has remained steadfast and has refused to be distracted. Had Malami not been named for the place, he wouldn’t have been assailed by the campaigns of calumny which can be crudely choreographed by a proxy whose benefactor had deliberate to appoint into the cupboard solely for the place of the Minister of Justice and AGF for some egocentric ends.
Gracefully, Buhari determined to assign the portfolio of Lawyer Common to Malami. Having put his nostril to the grindstone in a uncommon dedication to a Buhari presidency even when the chance was distant, it was solely anticipated that he ought to reap the place he had sown.
And what fallacious did Buhari commit by appointing a person whose capability within the authorized career he virtually knew whereas doing the 2011 presidential election petition in courtroom? These whose fixation it was to clinch the portfolio of the Minister of Justice and AGF would flip Malami right into a butt of unconscionable propaganda and relentless smear campaigns. It casts a spell within the eyes of even the unusual man how mischievous peddlers of faux information are out, firing from all cylinders, simply to malign the hard-earned proficient authorized system created by Malami, a authorized luminary who assumed workplace with a imaginative and prescient to deal with corruption head on.
I consider that if Malami is out of that workplace at present, which is their want, they might overlook about him and tackle anybody apart from their very own that’s appointed in his stead. However sadly for them, the president has not proven any indication or inclination in the direction of altering his cupboard to not discuss of eradicating Malami.
…Ibrahim is the director of communication and strategic planning, Presidential Assist Committee (PSC)
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