The civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has condemned the attacks and allegations leveled against the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice; Abubakar Malami.
This is just as it noted, that the attacks were orchestrated by elements that are well known to be associated and/or are working for alleged affiliates of the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; Ibrahim Magu.
The HURIWA National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko who made this known on Friday at a press conference in Abuja, said the Association is in total support of the efforts made by the AGF to reorganize the EFCC, adding that those bringing up these allegations are working hard to scuttle the ongoing reformation.
He emphasized that the campaigns, which intensified since the AGF urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; Ibrahim Magu for alleged infractions is being executed by elements close to Ibrahim Magu who hide under compromised Civil Society Organisations and induced media platforms to launch personal attacks against the Chief Law Officer of the Federation.
Onwubiko also disclosed that, to achieve their nefarious objectives, they have twisted several allegations which range from mismanagement of funds, abuse of office to obstruction of criminal investigations just to distract and even disable the AGF, thereby making a mess of the whole anti-corruption fight, especially, that involving Ibrahim Magu.
According to him, “Malami’s contribution in the area of carrying out the assigned roles of his office is indelible. Nigerians are not unaware of particularly the following: AGF’s contribution in taking over the Sowore case that eventually saw the release of hitherto detained Sowore and Dasuki; Decongestion of Nigerian Correctional Centres and release of almost 7,000 inmates.
“AGF’s legal acumen in handling suspected Boko Haram members; Implementation of Criminal Justice Act; Implementation of National Correctional Service Reform; Speedy litigation of election matters; Enhancement of Access to Justice; AGF’S efforts in making Socio-economic Rights justiciable.
“Handling of Apo Six Killing; Contribution in the signing of Executive Orders especially No 10 on Independence of State Legislature and Judiciary; and Coming out with Post COVID-19 Justice Sector plan, among others”, he said.
While noting that HURIWA is not holding brief for the AGF, Onwubiko stressed that the efforts to distract and even disable the Chief Law Officer of the Federation at a time Nigeria is embarking on measures to strengthen her laws and institutions is not in the best interest of the nation.
He added that the mandate as given to the Office of the Attorney-General in Section 174 (1) is critical to the fight against corruption, which is the cardinal focus of the current administration under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Onwubiko, who also called on Magu to willingly resign, following the quantum allegations against him, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to look beyond the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) when appointing a Chairman for the EFCC.
“Magu should resign by himself, the infractions against him are too much and our suggestion is that EFCC is not an appendage of the NPF, President Buhari should stop appointing police officers as EFCC chairman, Police is not the only law enforcement agencies, we have the National Intelligence Agency(NIA), Department of State Security Service (DSS).
“The Police has always been rated as the most corrupt institution in the world and it is wrong to keep picking people from the police as the corruption in the NPF is so much”, he said.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari on July 7, 2020, suspended the former Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu due to several corruption allegations leveled against him.
