Why sponsors of Igbo quit notice were not arrested – AGF

 Igbo must go cartoon 

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, on Tuesday, explained why the Federal Government could not arrest sponsors of the quit notice that was previously issued against Igbos residing in the northern part of the country.

Malami, SAN, said the government resisted pressure to go after leaders of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, after it gave due consideration to “security implications” of arresting them. However, the AGF said the government would not hesitate to wield the big stick against anyone or group found to have engaged in any form of lawlessness in any part of the country. According to him, “Government considered the security implications on the issue.

Let me state that government is alive to its responsibility and whoever is found wanting will be prosecuted. This administration is determined to provide good governance and promote justice, peace and fairness”. The AGF spoke on the issue shortly after he established an Investigation Unit in the Federal Ministry of Justice, with a mandate to investigate “sensitive and important cases”. Malami blamed the rift between him and the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu over prosecution of high profile cases, on negative media reports, though he admitted that shallow investigation was a major reason why some cases were thrown out by the courts. 

He said that the new unit that was established in the Ministry of Justice will henceforth “coordinate and form part of every investigation in Nigeria”, saying the move became necessary in view of apparent lack of “legal expertise in the conduct and process of investigations by the various security agencies in Nigeria”. The AGF insisted that the new unit would address those anomalies leading that not only led to frequent loss of court cases by the prosecuting agencies, but equally the “consistent rejection of vital/relevant evidence of the course of prosecution.” 

The Justice Minister however declined to specify the agencies whose pending court cases may likely be taken over by the new unit. However, aside the EFCC, other prosecuting agencies directly under the AGF’s supervision include the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, the Department of State Service, the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Person, as well as the Nigerian Police Force.

Vanguard