Controversy: Ekweremadu, Falana makes very crucial move

– Senator Ike Ekweremadu spoke over the weekend extensively on the importance of splitting the AGF from the Ministry of Justice

– The splitting was supported by other members of the National Conference Standing Committee on Law, Judiciary and Human Rights

–  Femi Falana gave salient reasons why the split would strengthen justice delivery in Nigeria

Senator Ike Ekweremadu has advocated for the split of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) from the Ministry of Justice.

The senator, who is the Deputy President of the Senate said this would ensure that justice delivery is strengthened in the country.

Senator Ekweremadu also noted that the separation of the two bodies was feasible. He disclosed that the proposal to separate the two offices actually sailed through during the last amendment exercise.

However it could not be passed, because the Fourth Alteration Bill was not assented to by the former President, Goodluck Jonathan. He stated that he personally believed in the idea, just as he said that it was a decision for the majority of Nigerians and lawmakers to make.

According to Vanguard, while speaking with journalists this weekend during a tour of the construction site of the national headquarters of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja, Ekweremadu commended the Bar leadership, under Mr. Augustine Alegeh, SAN, for continuing with the project, started by his predecessor.

He also explained that the separation of the two offices would make whoever was appointed the AGF, to work for the people and not necessarily the government in power as a cabinet minister, and that it would ensure access to justice by citizens, devoid of any external influence.

Ekweremadu said: “I believe in the separation of the two offices. I go for it any time, any day. This is because it will guarantee financial independence, security of tenure, and make the holder of the Office of the Attorney-General at the state and federal levels to be autonomous in thinking and approach to the idea of justice. It will ensure that citizens have access to justice, since the officer will not be dictated to by any external interest or influence.

READ ALSO: Ekweremadu declares: ‘APC is wasting time trying to sack me’, receives major support

During the last constitution amendment exercise, we (members Senate committee on the review of the 1999 constitution in the 7th National Assembly) recommend it to our colleagues, based on inputs from Nigerians, and they graciously adopted it.

Unfortunately, the last President did not sign it. Although, we will be looking at all the issues again, the decision on the separation, or any other issue for that matter, will depend on what other colleagues and Nigerians would think. But as a person, I strongly believe in it.”

When he was asked to speak on the on-going construction of the NBA National Secretariat, which is already nearing completion, Senator Ekweremadu said: “We want to thank the NBA President as well as his team for what he has done, because when people come into power, whether in private or government, they meet projects and abandon it, but he met the project, he has almost completed it.

I feel proud today as a lawyer, lawmaker, and ordinary Nigerian, that we will have a good and befitting secretariat at the heart of Abuja. It is also an indication that the Bar has come of age and re-positioning itself for greater role in the dispensation of justice.” 

The National Conference Standing Committee on Law, Judiciary and Human Rights had in April 2014 during the National Conference, adopted a recommendation for the separation of the office of Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation.

Deputy Chairman of the committee, Prof Auwalu Yadudu who made this known then, had said that the recommendation was to ensure the independence of the office of the Attorney-General from political influence.

According to Prof Yadudu, the two offices should not be occupied by an individual in order to ensure justice.

He said: “Of course, we have adopted a recommendation that will help, if you separate the office of the Attorney General from that of the Minister of Justice.

This will ensure that the person appointed to the office of the Attorney General enjoys sufficient independence and autonomy to do justice to all cases that will come before him.”

Another member of the Committee, Femi Falana, SAN, speaking during the conference had said that the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Minister of Justice had not worked in the public interest and should therefore, be separated.

READ ALSO: Saraki in trouble: Read what Senators are planning to do to him over forgery charges

Falana who noted then that there was no constitutional provision for a Minister of Justice to also serve as the attorney general, had said: “One of the reasons is constitutional. By virtue of Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution, while the President has the power to appoint an Attorney General, it is not required by law that the Attorney-General shall be the Minister of Justice.

Section 174 does not say that the Attorney-General shall be the Minister of Justice but by convention over the years, the President has always asked the Attorney General to be the Minister of Justice.

But in line with the common trend and based on our experience as a people, the two offices have not worked in the public interest most of the time.

We had an attorney general in the recent past who, upon the completion of his term, was suspended as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria because he grossly abused the office and became the defense counsel to accused persons being tried by the government of which he was the chief law officer.”

Falana also said that many attorneys general at federal and state levels terminated “serious corruption cases” by filing that government was not willing to prosecute “whereas the public was demanding for justice”.

According to Falana, some also terminated cases for which they were the defence counsel before they were appointed attorneys-general.

He had said: “because the minister of justice is a member of the government and the President or the governor wants a case discontinued, it is always a very difficult decision to take.
We also want to relieve our colleagues of the burden of having to fight with their conscience because the president or governor has insisted that a case be discontinued.”

Meanwhile on Thursday, July 22, embattled Senate president, Bukola Saraki might have made a move that will reduce or extinguish the internal opposition that has been raging in the Nigerian senate for weeks.

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