Tag: Abubakar Malami

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NEWS & LIFE

Malami drags Igboho, Kanu deeper into infamy

FG reviews 2020 draft FCT court sentencing guidlines, practice direction
AGF Abubakar Malami Malami

For the duo of Sunday Adeyemo Igboho and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, it seems that when it rains, it also pours. For a season, the activists carried out their separate agitations with remarkable candour, angst and air of invincibility. But, not again.

This certainly cannot be a good season for Igboho, the Yoruba nation activist, who was arrested on 27th July, along with his wife in Cotonou. The wise saying among his southwest kinsmen that when a man is brought down by a big affliction, it leaves him at the torment of smaller problems, is apt.

Igboho is a businessman and agitator for self determination for the Yorubs. He was caught trying to escape to Germany and has been in custody of the police, for months in Benin Republic. He has since been in court, facing trial for illegal migration and attempt to cause civil unrest.

His counsels and sympathisers have thus far, managed to prevent his evacuation to Nigeria, where more grievous charges of instigating public unrest, treason and terrorism are awaiting him. In the last few weeks, his supporters have also severally raised the alarm over his failing health and an alleged poison, consequently appealing for his release to enable him get medical attention.

Hopes of his early release on Friday suffered a dent, when the Federal Government through Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami made fresh allegations bodering on terrorism funding against the embattled separatist.

Malami who addressed journalists in his office disclosed that Federal Government’s investigations have revealed the sponsors of Igboho. He said a probe committee headed by him has confirmed links between Igboho and a federal law maker on one hand and a link with a Boko Haram sponsor convicted in the United Arab Emirates, UAE. He said the activist runs 43 bank accounts.

Igboho

“Investigation reveals that Adesun International Concept Ltd (belonging to Igboho) transferred the sum of N12,750,000 to Abbal Bako & Sons.

“It might be recalled that Abbal Bako & Sons and its promoter Abdullahi Umar Usman are suspects in the on-going Joint Terrorist Financing Investigation.

“Abdullahi Umar Usman is by way of financial transaction connected to Surajo Muhammad (who was sentenced to life imprisonment in UAE on charges of financing terrorism (Boko Haram),” Malami said.

The minister explained that the report showed the nexus between separatists’ agitation, terrorism financing and disruptions of peace in the country.

“The report found connections of financial transaction between Adesun International Concept Ltd (belonging to Igboho) and some construction companies and businesses among others.”

After his allegations against Igboho, the Minister went for the knife against Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. Kanu is standing trial for seven charges bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism and was left in the custody of Department of State Services, DSS, by Justice Binta Nyako of Federal High Court, Abuja on Thursday.

Malami who heads the 24-member ad-hoc committee set up by President Muhammodu Buhari condemned Kanu. He accused the IPOB leader of masterminding the death of Dr. Chike Akunyili, Senator Ahmed Gulak and 184 others in addition to causing mayhem and the destruction or burning of several public facilities in the southeast.

“The destructive activities of IPOB/ESN pose serious threat to Nigeria’s national security and its corporate existence, which resulted into re-arrest of Nnamdi Kanu and members of his group,” Mr Malami said.

Kanu

“We have also established that Kanu is not alone in his subversive activities. He has accomplices in Nigeria and abroads, individuals and groups as well as state and non-state actors who are aiding and facilitating his campaign against the people and state of Nigeria.

“Some of the state actors aided Kanu, even as a fugitive, in his destructive mission, ignoring the terrorist nature of his activities.

Although Malami did not mention names, he added that “we call on these countries to desist from aiding subversive acts by KANU and IPOB against the state of Nigeria and its people.”

But in swift reactions, Ilana Oodua and some human rights groups have risen in defence of Igboho and Kanu. Chief Yomi Aliyu one of the Counsels of Igboho, faulted the claims made by Malami, describing them as mere conjectures and not hard fact. He wondered why the Minister did not name the lawmaker allegedly sponsoring his client

His statement reads in part: “Our attention has been drawn to a text press conference by the Hon Attorney General and Minister of Finance wherein he fruitlessly tried to paint our client and those patronising his car trade as terrorists and/or financiers of terrorists.

“I have gone through the text. Sunday was alleged to have transferred the sum of #12.7m to Abbal Bako & Sons owned by Abdullahi Umar. Transferring money to bureau de change to buy dollars is what is done by every businessman of our client’s calibre. Thank God that his passports and various bills of ladings were carted away by DSS during the ungodly invasion of 1st July, 2021.

“Thus, so far there is no evidence of receipt of money from Abbal Bako & Sons or Abdullahi Umar going by the text conference. What the Hon AGF stated are mere conjectures. Not hard fact. Our client according to him paid Umar and NOT vice versa thus believing what the Honourable Attorney General of Federation earlier said that Chief Sunday Adeyemo is being financed by people.

“The picture the Learned AGF wanted to paint is that our Client is being financed by Abdullah Umar allegedly involved in terrorists financing. Who is now financing who? Again, Chief Adeyemo is a car dealer trading in the name of Adesun International Concept Ltd. Does it mean that anybody buying car from him or selling car to him is a terrorist?

“Chief Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a Igboho Oosa was not into Oodua Nation until last year. So finding over #273m turnover between October 2013 and September 2020 shows that he was not a poor man. His house invaded by DSS on 1st July 2020 is worth over #2billion!

“I challenge the Hon AGF to mention the lawmaker that sent money to Chief Sunday Adeyemo for terrorist act whether he would not be damnified in exemplary damages for defamation.

“Up till date our client has not been prosecuted or found liable for any criminal act or terrorism. There is also a VALID AND SUBSISTING court judgement that agitation for self determination is not an act of terrorism but fundamental human right of any citizen.

In the same vein, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo has slammed Malami for blaming Kanu for every crime in Nigeria. The spokesman for the group, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, in an interview said, “Our understanding of Malami’s address is that he has heaped all the criminalities across the country over the period on IPOB.

“It appears right now that investigations are already concluded on who killed Dr Chike Akunyili, the husband of the late Dora Akunyili and Ahmed Gulak and those who destroyed the palace of the Oba of Lagos. His remarks also showed that he already knows the killers.

“As the Attorney General of the Federation, whatever remark Malami makes should be highly founded on facts. It’s not supposed to be involved in speculations.

These look like classical cases of those who are down, fearing further fall. Who will get Igboho, Kanu and their fellow wayfairers off the hook?

Credit: TheNews

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NEWS & LIFE

FG plots fresh legal hurdles for Igboho to counter N20bn damage ‘purported judgement’

They have killed one of our men - Yoruba Nation agitator holding rally in Lagos
Igboho

About a week after Justice Ladiran Akintola of an Oyo State High Court awarded N20bn damage against the Department of State Security, in favour of Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Igboho, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has stated the Federal Government’s stand on it.

He referred to it in the context of ‘puported judgement’ and ‘court alleged to have given such order’, suggesting that the government might have issues with the context, process and order from the case.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Federal Government may file a fresh action against Igboho.

NAN quoted Malami as saying in New York that the FG had the right to appeal the judgement or file a fresh charge.

The had awarded the money as “an exemplary and aggravated damages” against the AGF and the State Security Service (SSS), over the invasion of Adeyemo’s home in Ibadan on July 1.

However, Malami said the position of the FGon the judgment was about “law and jurisdiction”.

“As far as this matter is concerned, which court is it that has the jurisdiction to determine it? And as you rightly know, obedient to court orders and court judgments,” he said.

“But then you have to understand within the context of such obedience that there are associated rights and interests that are vested in the Federal Government.

“Inclusive of rights of appealing against a judgment, inclusive of right to file an application for setting aside the purported judgment and order.

“And indeed, inclusive of the possibility of filing a fresh action if indeed the jurisdiction of the court that was alleged to have indeed handed that judgment is an issue.

“So, we are doing the needful in terms of looking at the law as it exists and then working within the context of the law in ensuring that justice is done as far as the contending issues between the parties are concerned,’’ the minister explained.

NAN recalls that Igboho’s counsel, Yomi Alliyu, SAN, had filed a N500 billion fundamental human rights enforcement suit against the AGF, SSS and the Director of the SSS in Oyo State over the invasion of his home in Ibadan on July 1.

Alliyu claimed that his client’s house and cars were damaged, while two occupants of the house were killed by SSS operatives during the incident.

However, counsel to AGF, Abdullah Abubakar, had argued that there was no evidence before the court that the blood seen in the video clip tendered by Alliyu belonged to a human being.

Abubakar also said there was nothing in the video clip that showed that the house that was invaded belonged to Igboho or linked the AGF with the invasion.

Adeyemo is still being held in the Republic of Benin where he was arrested some weeks ago while trying to flee to Germany.

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BUSINESS NEWS & LIFE

From Malami in New York: FIRS should continue to collect VAT

FG reviews 2020 draft FCT court sentencing guidlines, practice direction
AGF Abubakar Malami Malami

The Federal Government says the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) will continue to collect Value Added Tax (VAT) following the ruling of the Court of Appeal on the matter.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York while speaking on the disagreement over the collection of VAT between FIRS and Rivers Government.

The chief law officer of the federation explained that the ruling of the Court of Appeal that FIRS and the Rivers Government maintain status quo, favoured FIRS.

He said that it was Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) that had been collecting the VAT before the dispute arose, over which the Rivers government approached the High Court.

“The position of not only the Federal Government but indeed the judiciary is the fact that status quo associated with the collecting of VAT should be maintained,” Malami said.

“And as far as the judicial system is concerned, the status quo as at the time the parties approached the court, it was the Federal Inland Revenue Service that was indeed collecting the value added tax.

“So with that in mind, the Federal Government has succeeded in obtaining an order that establishes the sustenance of the status quo, which status quo is that the Federal Inland Revenue Service should continue collection.

“This is pending the determination of the cases that were instituted by states, particularly the Rivers State Government and the Lagos State government. The cases are being determined by the court.”

NAN reports that the Rivers government had urged the Supreme Court to set aside the Court of Appeal’s Sept. 10 ruling ordering it and FIRS to maintain status quo on the issue of VAT collection.

A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal headed by Haruna Tsammani, issued the order being challenged at the Supreme Court by the Rivers government.

The state also urged the apex court to disband the panel of the appelate court, which gave the interim order and ordered another one to be constituted to hear the case.

“But one thing of interest is the fact that the Federal Government had indeed taken cognisance of the fact that where there exists a dispute between a State and Federal Government, it is the Supreme Court that should naturally have the jurisdiction to determine the dispute between the state and the federation.

“And we are taking steps to consider the possibility of instituting an action before the Supreme Court for the purpose of having this matter determined once and for all,’’ Malami said.
– NAN

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FEATURED STORIES NEWS & LIFE

We have arrested all financiers of terrorism – FG

Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami

The Federal Government has said it has arrested those funding terrorism.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, said they were in custody, adding that the FG had suceeded in blocking terrorism financing in Nigeria.

Malami told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York that the government had also succeeded in identifying and detaining “high profile individuals” responsible for funding terrorists’ activities in the country.

The AGF had announced in May that Nigerian government was about to begin the prosecution of about 400 suspected Boko Haram financiers and was profiling some high-profile Nigerians strongly suspected to be financing terrorism for prosecution.

The delay in their prosecution and unveiling the suspects have been criticised in certain quarters, but Malami assured the federal government was determined to take stringent measures to counter insurgency in the country.

“We have succeeded in identifying those that are responsible for funding terrorists,” the minister said.

“We have also blocked the leakages associated with funding and then embarking on aggressive investigation that is indeed impacting positively in term of the fight against terrorism.

“But then, the truth of the matter is that investigation is ongoing, is advancing and for the purpose of investigation, I wouldn’t like to be pre-emptive in terms of making disclosures that would have the effect of undermining the successes we are recording as far as investigation is concerned.

“But one thing I can tell you for sure is that whatever we do in terms of detention and in terms of arrest is indeed backed by judicial process.

“We have indeed obtained a legitimate court order taking into consideration what we have presented before the court; the court eventually exercised its discretion in terms of granting orders that we can have them in custody.

“This is pending the conclusion of investigation, which investigation in essence is indeed deeply taking place and we are making a lot of successes and recording a lot of progress in the direction of investigation.”

The chief law officer of Nigeria, however, said the issue of terrorism financing was a work in progress and would not like to be pre-emptive in terms of investigation.

“But one thing I can say for sure is, arising from such arrests, the terrorist funding and financing has indeed been crippled substantially and that eventually translated to some major improvements being recorded as far as crippling the strength of terrorists is concerned within the nation.

“You can see visibly that we are indeed witnessing tremendous successes associated with the Boko Haram, which translate to significant decimation of the Boko Haram terrorists.

“They (Boko Haram) have been decimated to a larger extent and you can see what is unfolding as far as the North West banditry activities are concerned.

“They (bandits) are as well been decimated to a larger degree. All these are indeed the effect of what we have done,” he said.

Malami also said that Nigeria was creating a consensus building towards making assets recovery easier for countries.

The minister recalled that Nigeria had recovered 322 million dollars from Switzerland in 2017 and 311 million dollars from the U.S. in 2020.

He said Nigeria was looking at the possibility of recovering further 200 million pounds from the U.S. aside other associated assets being pursued in some other countries.

“We are pursuing a lot of assets across the globe and we intend very soon, we are coordinating a further meeting relating to huge recovery in U.K. associated with certain personalities.

“But I would not like to give further disclosure in respect of that to put into consideration the need not to be pre-emptive as far as our strategies are concerned.

He said the 311 million dollars recovered from Switzerland was deployed to execute the Abuja-Kano highway, the Lagos-Ibadan highway and the Second Niger Bridge.

“So I think we are doing wonderfully well in terms of deploying the recovery of the looted assets and deploying same in projects that impact positively on the lives of people,” he said.

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BUSINESS

NDDC’s 362 bank accounts rattle FG

Ajulo threatens law suit over non disclosure of N40b NDDC beneficiaries
NDDC

The Federal Government has express shock at financial management at the Niger Delta Development Commission, which operates as many as 362 accounts.

The revelation is greeting the submission of the report of the forensic audit of the commission, which was submitted to the government on Thursday.

The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, received the document from the Niger Delta Minister, Godswill Akpabio.

According to Malami, the 362 accounts cannot be reconciled.

He said, “It is on record that between 2001 and 2019, the Federal Government has approved N3, 375, 735,776,794.93 as budgetary allocation and N2,420,948,894,191.00 as Income from Statutory and Non Statutory Sources, which brings the total figure to the sum of approximately N6 trillion given to the Niger Delta Development Commission.

“The Federal Government is particularly concerned with the colossal loss occasioned by uncompleted and unverified development projects in the Niger Delta region, in spite of the huge resources made available to uplift the living standard of the citizens.

“We have on record over 13,777 projects, the execution of which is substantially compromised. The Federal Government is also concerned with the multitudes of Niger Delta Development Commission’s bank accounts amounting to 362 and lack of proper reconciliation of accounts.

“The essence of the forensic audit is to ensure probity and accountability in the use of public funds. It is against this background that the Federal Government will without hesitation strategically implement all aspects of the audit exercise that will promote probity and greater prosperity for the Niger Delta Region and Nigeria as whole.”

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NEWS & LIFE

Falana invokes Freedom of Information Bill on 400 Boko Haram sponsors

Falana to ECOWAS Court: Facilitate online filing processes
Falana

Veteran lawyer, Femi Falana, has invoked the Freedom of Information Bill on the 400 sponsors of Boko Haram which the Federal Government said it had identified in May.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria is asking the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to furish him with information on the state of the alleged sponsors’ prosecution.

According to a Freedom of Information request dated August 3, Falana is demanding information on the charges against the arrested sponsor.

It noted: “On May 4 2021, it was widely reported widely by the media that the Federal Government had concluded arrangement to prosecute about 400 alleged sponsors and financiers of terrorism in Nigeria.

“In the said publication, your office assured the nation that the suspects would be arraigned after the industrial action embarked upon by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria.

“In view of the attacks being unleashed on law-abiding citizens by groups insurgents in several parts of the country, we strongly commend the move by the Federal Government to prosecute the suspects who were reported to have been arrested in a nationwide operation a few months ago.

“We, however, request that our law firm be furnished with information with respect to when criminal charges were filed against the suspects since the strike by JUSUN has since been called off.

“Kindly ensure that we are furnished with the requested information within 7 days of the receipt of this letter in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011,” the letter read.

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POLITICS

Senator hits Malami over his herding-spare parts trading comparison

A Senator from Osun State, Ajibola Bashiru, has lambasted the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, for equating herdsmen and spare parts sellers, especially violent herders.

Malami had said that banning open grazing in the South was tantamount to banning spare parts business in the North.
Bashiru, who is the Senate Spokesman, however found this nauseating.
Commenting on it, he said:

“Anyone who cannot rise above primordial sentiments and pursue a parochial ethnic agenda need not occupy a position of trust especially at this time of sectional agitations.

“It was not dignifying of the status of the nation’s attorney-general and minister of justice to make such remarks.

“Those who have no meaningful contributions to national discourse operating on the basis of equity and justice to keep quiet and stop rubbishing the Buhari-led APC government.

“These kind of statements have made Nigeria a laughing stock in the comity of Nations and they ridicule the administration of President Buhari. These statements are not giving hope to those at the receiving end of the activities of the herdsmen.”

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POLITICS

Malami’s mindset on herding is terrible – Akeredolu

Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu

Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has described as terrible the mindset of the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on the minister’s comparison of open grazing and spare parts trading.

Malami had, on Wednesday, likened the banning of open grazing by southern governors to banning spare parts trading in the North.

Akeredolu, in a statement personally signed by him on Thursday, lambasted him, saying his perception on herding was anachronistic.

Akeredolu noted: “I have just read the press statement credited to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Shehu Malami SAN on the resolution of the Southern Governors Forum to ban open grazing in their respective States.

“The AGF is quoted to have said that this reasoned decision, among others, is akin to banning all spare parts dealers in the Northern parts of the country and is unconstitutional.

Southern governors’ resolutions: ACF backs open grazing ban, says restructuring to divide Nigeria
“It is most unfortunate that the AGF is unable to distill issues as expected of a Senior Advocate. Nothing can be more disconcerting. This outburst should, ordinarily, not elicit response from reasonable people who know the distinction between a legitimate business that is not in anyway injurious and a certain predilection for anarchy.

“Clinging to an anachronistic model of animal husbandry, which is evidently injurious to harmonious relationship between the herders and the farmers as well as the local populace, is wicked and arrogant.

“Comparing this anachronism, which has led to loss of lives, farmlands and property, and engendered untold hardship on the host communities, with buying and selling of auto parts is not only strange. It, annoyingly, betrays a terrible mindset.

“Mr Malami is advised to approach the court to challenge the legality of the Laws of the respective States baning open grazing and decision of the Southern Governor Forum taken in the interest of their people. We shall be most willing to meet him in Court.

“The decision to ban open grazing stays. It will be enforced with vigour.”

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POLITICS

Banning open grazing is like banning spare parts trading in the North – Malami

Justice Minister Abubakar Malami

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has said that banning open grazing in the southern part of Nigeria is like banning spare parts trading in the North.

He made the analogy in response to the banning of open grazing by southern governors.

According to him, the decision is unconstitutional because herders have the right to be in any part of the country.

He said on a Channels Television programme on Wednesday:

“It is about constitutionality. Within the context of the freedoms enshrined in our constitution, can you deny a right of a Nigerian? It is as good as saying may be the Northern governors coming together to say that they prohibit spare parts trading in the North. Does it hold water? Does it hold water for a Northern governor to come and state expressly that he now prohibits spare parts trading in the North.
“If you are talking of a constitutionally guaranteed right, the better approach to it is perhaps to go back and ensure that the constitution is amended. The freedom and liberty of movement, amongst others is established by the constitution.
“If by an inch, you want to have any compromise, the better approach is to go back to the National Assembly for open grazing to be prohibited and see whether you can have the desired support for the constitutional amendment in that respect but it is a very dangerous position for any governor in Nigeria to think that he can bring about any compromise on the freedom and liberty of individuals to move around.”

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HEADLINES INTERNATIONAL

UK govt to Nigeria: Ill-gotten wealth not allowed in Britain

Ibori

Ms Catriona Laing, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, says ill–gotten money is not welcome in the UK.

Laing, made this known on Tuesday, during the signing ceremony of an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UK and Nigeria for the return of former Gov. James Ibori’s confiscated assets from the UK at the Ministry of Justice.

She said the MoU will see the return of over 4.2million pounds recovered from the associates and family of Ibori to the Nigerian government.

“The return of these assets to Nigeria has been subject to a number of hard fought legal challenges by third parties which were defeated in the UK courts.

” We will ensure the full weight of law enforcement to crack down those who use, move or hide their proceed of crime in the UK”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that in February 2012, Ibori pleaded guilty in a UK court to money laundering, conspiracy to defraud and forgery and was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Some of his associates and family members also received sentences for similar offences.

The Commissioner said that transparent asset recovery is priority for both UK and Nigeria governments.

“It is vital that this agreement makes strong provision for transparency, monitoring and accountability.

” It is a guiding principle of both UK and Nigerian governments that stolen assets should be used for projects that benefit Nigeria’s poor”, she said.

Also speaking, Abubakar Malami, SAN, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, said the federal government is committed to ensuing the transparent management of all recovered assets.

“The assets returned will support and assist in expediting the construction of three major infrastructure projects across Nigeria.

” The projects are the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Abuja – Kano road and the second Niger Bridge that are being executed under the supervision of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority.

“The project will boost economic growth and help alleviate poverty by connecting people and supply chains from the East to the West and to the Northern part of Nigeria”.

Also speaking, Mr Dayo Apata, SAN, the Solicitor-General of the Federation, while welcoming the guests said the ministry has fully assumed its leadership role in its constitutional duty in the administration of Justice in Nigeria.

” It has led to the formulation of National Strategies/Action Plan for combating corruption.

“Vigorous pursuing repatriation of recovered looted funds/assets in the face of daunting challenges.

” Drafting of Bills to stifle corrupt practices and to bring about and efficient and beneficial management of the proceeds of crime amongst others.