AGF Orders Appeal against CCT Judgment on Saraki

•  Says he’s committed to fighting corruption

Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), Wednesday in Abuja said that he had directed that an appeal be filed against the judgment of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), which last week discharged and acquitted the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, of charges that he had violated the code of conduct for public officers.

In a statement issued by his spokesman, Salihu Isah, the AGF also rejected the accusation by a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Professor Femi Odekunle, that he was not committed to the administration’s fight against corruption, saying he was disappointed at Odekunle’s statement.

He said in line with his commitment to the fight against corruption, he had “directed that a Notice of Appeal be lodged against the ruling of the Code of Conduct Tribunal acquitting and discharging the false assets declaration case preferred against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki”.

Malami noted that despite some recent setbacks recorded in some of the cases involving politically exposed persons, the war against corruption was fully on course.

He said: “It shall be fought resolutely, painstakingly, doggedly, purposefully and determinedly with all the constitutional and legal arsenal at the disposal of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
According to him, the government was more than ever before committed to the complete eradication of corruption and graft in the country.

The statement read: “To say that the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) frowns at the statement is an understatement. In fact, he is highly disappointed that such accusation and statement could be made by those who ought to know better.

“The Attorney General of the Federation is saddened and flummoxed at the attempt to cast aspersions on his integrity, dedication and commitment to the war against corruption which undoubtedly is one of the major cornerstones of the present administration.

“There is no gainsaying that the incumbent Attorney General of the Federation has shown and demonstrated so much passion, drive, will and enthusiasm in the prosecution of transgressors of the law ever seen in the annals of this country.

“The truth of the matter is that the Attorney General of the Federation is totally, fully and completely committed, dedicated and supports the war against corruption in all its form and ramifications.”

Malami said since he was appointed, he had initiated numerous reforms and programmes to drive the war against corruption, including the recently launched National Anti-Corruption Strategy, 2017.

The minister said the National Anti-Corruption Strategy plan was a five-year plan to combat corruption and corrupt tendencies in the country to the barest minimum and that it was the first of such initiatives in the history of the country.