The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF),
Abubakar Malami (SAN) Tuesday justified the arrest of some judges by the
Department of State Services (DSS).
Malami argued that what happened in relation to the affected judges was
mere investigation of criminal allegations.
He contended that no one is immune to investigation under the Nigerian
law, noting that once allegation of criminality was raised, it was the
duty of the relevant investigating agencies to carry out investigation.
The AGF spoke in Abuja Tuesday shortly after inaugurating the “country
expert review committee for the second cycle of the review of
implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption
(UNCAC).”
Malami, who was asked by journalists to comment on the arrest of judges,
said:
“The fundamental consideration is whether there is an allegation of the
commission of a crime; whether there is the need for investigation, and
whether the relevant provisions of the law and indeed, all circumstances,
as provided in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) are put
into consideration in our conduct as regard the fight against corruption.
“The bottom line is that we have a responsibility to fight corruption.
Corruption is a crime and nobody, regardless of how highly placed, and is
exempted as far as issues that border on crimes and criminalities are
concerned.
“The limited exceptions as we know constitutionally are the exceptions of
immunity. And to the best of my knowledge those exceptions do not apply to
investigation.
“For those that are conferred with the immunity, the right to investigate
has not been taken away constitutionally.
“So, I think the framework and the circumstances within which we are
operating are clearly whether there exists the right to investigate or
not, and whether the action borders on criminality.
“Once crimes and criminality are concerned, nobody is an exception. I
think the undertone should be exclusively the consideration of the
existence of a prima facie case; existence of reasonable grounds for
suspicion of commission of a crime.
“And if there are, no member of the Legislature, Judiciary and Executive
can definitely be exempted from investigation. I think where we are now is
the point of investigation and that is what is taking place,” Malami said.
While inaugurating the committee, Malami expressed confidence in the
ability of its members to execute their responsibilities.
He said: “The extant review focusing on Chapter I I and V of the UNCAC,
relating to preventive measures against corruption in public and private
sectors and asset recovery, is both necessary and timely at this time in
the annals of our country, when endemic cum systemic corruption has
created a great discontent between our nation’s wealth and the quality of
life of ordinary citizens.
Malami, who noted that the objectives of UNCAC were in harmony with the
conviction of the current Federal Government to curb corruption, said it
was necessary for members of the committee to understand the important
task of nation-building which is being committed to their hands.
“Let me emphasise that the guiding principles of the review is
non-adversarial, non-punitive and not aimed at ranking state parties.
“Nevertheless, members of the expert committee should understand that
those selected, appointed or nominated by my office or your various
agencies are chosen based on skills, expertise and commitment.
“It is therefore important to note that your performance in this
assignment will be a step in the direction for us as a country and people
to achieve the goals that we have set for ourselves – prevent corruption,
recover, return and manage stolen assets,” Malami said.
Members of the committee are drawn from 22 agencies of the federal
government, including Independent Corrupt Practices and other related
offences Commission (ICPC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC), Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), Technical
Unit on Governance and Anti-corruption Reforms (TUGAR).