The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has finally appeared before the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal matters. It would be recalled that a Senate briefing on the matter on Tuesday, 12th July revealed that the AGF had failed to appear before the aforementioned Committee on several occasions since its invitation in June 2016. The Senate’s invited the AGF to adduce reasons why his action in prosecuting its Principal Officers for the alleged forgery of the 2015 Senate Standing Rules did not amount to incompetence, gross misconduct, contempt of court and abuse of office.
At the Committee hearing, the AGF informed the Committee that his actions were justified as they were carried out objectively and with regard to public interest, justice and the rule of law. He also highlighted that police investigations on the matter had concluded four (4) months prior to his appointment as Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice and that the case was instituted as the normal course of business and procedure.
The AGF was reluctant in making explicit comments on the matter on the grounds that the case is subjudice (a matter under consideration in Court). However he drew a distinction between an amendment to the Senate Standing Rules in 2011, which he said followed necessary procedure and the current case which is before the court. He mentioned that although section 60 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) empowers the legislature to regulate its proceedings, any procedure for amendment must be within the strict confines of the section thereby implying that the proper procedure was not adhered to in the amendment of the 2015 Senate Standing Rules.
The Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters is expected to make a conclusive report on the matter at plenary by the end of this week.
