Breaking!!! AGF, Malami Needs No Approval From Buhari To Halt Any Corruption Case, Presidency Declares

• The SA to the President on Anti-Corruption said that the Attorney-general of the Federation needs no directive from the President to stop any corruption
• The SA stated this in response to the allegation levelled against Malami by Prof Sagay of frustrating corruption cases.
• The Presidential Aid maintained that the Law has been very clear on the powers of Attorney-general in the trial of any corruption case.

The Special Adviser to the President on Anti-Corruption, Abiodun Aikomo, said the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has the power to stop any corruption case without recourse or explanation to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Aikomo, who works in the office of the AGF, said this on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme while responding to allegations that Malami had not been cooperating with anti-graft agencies.

The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), had accused Malami of frustrating the war against corruption.

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In his response, Aikomo stated that the constitutional powers to enter nolle prosequi (stop prosecution) has been given to the Attorney-general. He maintained that the attorney-general does not owe anybody any explanation; not even the President as the Supreme Court has already ruled on the same issue on several occasions.

The Special Adviser emphasized that such powers are not something somebody can second gues; stressing that the Attorney-general’s power to enter nolle prosequi is borne out of so many things and it is not a power that is at large. The constitution has circumscribed how the power should be used and that he could State with confidence that the Attorney-general has been using the powers constitutionally.

On why the Attorney-general had discontinued many corruption cases in court, Aikomo said there were many things that were usually considered before cases are allowed to go forward.

However, Mr. Tosin Ojaomo, who is the lawyer to the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, said the AGF ought to exercise his powers in the interest of the public.

Ojaomo said Malami had failed to prosecute cases that he had taken over from the disbanded Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property. He thus implored the Attorney-general to always act within the confines of the Law while exercising his powers.