A team of human rights lawyers under the aegis of Public Interest Defenders (PID) has demanded that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazzau, be fired from office with immediate effect for breach of public trust.
The group said consequently, they should be investigated and prosecuted for their roles in shielding an evidently corrupt individual.
The group hinged its demand on their alleged involvement in the re-engagement of a former chairman of Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdurasheed Maina, who had been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged N2 billion pension scam.
The PID, in a statement issued in Jos by its chairman, Pelumi Olajengbesi, said both ministers could not be said to have acted in good conscience nor within the mandate of their respective offices.
The statement is titled: “Demand for the immediate removal of AGF, Abubakar Malami, and Minister for Interior, Abdulraman Dambazzau, upon their failed mandate concerning the disgraceful Abdulraheed Maina saga.”
The statement reads in part: “By virtue of Section 174(1) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the AGF shall exercise his powers as Chief Law Officer of the nation with particular attention to public interest, interest of justice and safety from tyranny.
“It is our firm belief that the AGF is currently acting contrary to our collective interest as a people, and it is high time he was removed from office and a more committed individual with public interest at heart be appointed.
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“This recommendation is not made lightly and must be viewed in the light of the AGF’s continued loggerhead position with the law and the fight against corruption. More so, we collectively denounce the reluctance and the lack of passion of the AGF to arrest and prosecute Maina immediately in line with the President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade.
“Letting such a man go without punishment is an insult on our collective sensibilities and a clear cut indication that Abubakar Malami is intent on sabotaging this anti-corruption administration.
“It is also our collective belief that Abubakar Malami acted in a manner capable of mortgaging our trust, confidence and faith as a people. His involvement in reinstating Maina back into the ministry as a Director is an act of betrayal and lack of patriotism for the country.
“His sense of justice is apparently skewed and unreliable. He must go for the law contemplate no sacred cows in its temple.
“While much has been inferred in extensor with regards to the Justice Minister, we unreservedly demand that Interior Minister be subjected to the same process as the Justice Minister: dismissed, investigated and prosecuted.
“The action of the Interior Minister is dishonourable and must be queried for its evil intent. It is time we properly sanitise the system, pick out the bad eggs within it and only then can our country be great again.”
