Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami has debunked accusations that he supports the continued detention of former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki by the  Federal Government.

Malami’s denial was contained in the defence brought on his behalf by his lawyer in a suit at a Federal High Court in Abuja which was filed by an Abuja-based constitutional lawyer, Mr Jonnmary Jideobi. Jideobi’s suit is seeking an order of the court which would compel  the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee to strip the Attorney General of his title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

In filing the suit, Jideobi said that Malami had during an interview he granted an online publication, insisted that Dasuki would not be allowed to enjoy any form of freedom because of the gravity of offences levied against him..

 In his suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/807/2018, Jideobi submitted that by that singular act, Malami had conducted himself in an unprofessional manner. That interview, it was revealed, also formed the basis of the petition by Dasuki’s family to the Legal Pratitioners Disciplinary Committee seeking also that Malami be stripped of the title of SAN.

However, Malami in his response to the legal action denied conducting himself in an unprofessional manner, arguing that at no time did he advise the President or the Federal Government to continue to keep the defendant in custody against the orders of several courts granting him bail.

In a five paragragh affidavit which was deposed to by his lawyer, Ballah Ali, Malami told the court how he persuaded the government to release the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu on bail, adding that he could not go against the laws of the land neither would he encourage anyone to do so.

The AGF added that sequel to the recommendation of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), he also convinced the government to pay ₦135 million as compensation to families of deceased and injured victims of the invasion of an uncompleted building in Apo area of Abuja by the Department of State Services (DSS) in 2013.

Consequently, he urged the court to dismiss the suit that was lodged against him by Mr. Jideobi, averring that the plaintiff had not obtained any court order/judgment against the defendant which was not yet obeyed.

“That the Defendant has not misconducted himself in his official capacity as Attorney General of the Federation or in his personal capacity as a SAN in any proceeding before this honourable court to warrant a report being made to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.

“The Defendant did not at any time render legal advice to the president or the federal government or any of its agencies in contravention of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, or any other law in force,” the affidavit read.

Dasuki, who is standing trial on allegations of money laundering and illegal possession of firearms both at the Federal High Court and the FCT High Court in Abuja was admitted to bail but still remains in the custody of the Federal Government.

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