A human rights lawyer, Mr. Ajibola Abirisala (SAN), has berated the House of Representatives for accusing the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, of manipulating Senate President Bukola Saraki’s corruption trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The lawmakers had, in a motion entitled, “Need to ensure sanity in the legal administration of Justice System in the fight against corruption in Nigeria by the AGF” and promoted by the Minority Whip, Yakubu Barde (PDP, Kaduna), noted that the AGF was instrumental to the saga playing out in the administration of the justice system.
The motion was overwhelmingly supported by the lawmakers.
Saraki had returned to the CCT after an appeal court judgement cleared him of 15 but three of the 18-count charges leveled against him in a matter bearing on false asset declaration.
But the legal luminary, who spoke to our correspondent against the backdrop of the allegation, described the lawmakers as corrupt.
Aribisala noted that the lawmakers were used to manipulating the system, adding that they were not innocent.
While noting that it was not within the purview of the lawmakers to probe the AGF, Aribisala said Malami had the right to bring anybody found culpable of any crime to justice.
He said, “The lawmakers themselves are corrupt and that is why they appropriate to themselves monies and salaries that they have refused to disclose. Up till now, members of the public don’t know what they earn. When they are asked to make open their salaries and they decline, is that not manipulation? It is because they are used to manipulating the system that is why they are accusing the AGF and minister of justice of manipulation.
“What is their business with what is happening with the AGF? There is nothing legal about what they have said. It is even wrong to accuse him, though they might have some level of financial control on the AGF or a minister of the federation. The AGF has the right to bring anybody found culpable of any crime to justice.”
