AGF Malami denies advising Buhari to suspend the constitution and declare state of emergency
President Muhammadu Buhari has been asked to suspend the Nigerian constitution and declare a state of emergency across the nation in an attempt to find a solution to widespread chaos and insecurity plaguing the nation, if a report on People’s Gazette is to be believed.
The online publication claims Attorney-General Abubakar Malami in a lengthy legal advice to the Nigerian president, urged him to move swiftly to suspend the fundamental rights of all Nigerians as guaranteed under Chapter IV of the Constitution.
“In the eight-page secret memo dated May 4, 2021, Mr Malami told Mr Buhari that insecurity across Nigeria has reached a level that could no longer be checked by existing democratic techniques, saying only a state of emergency promulgated by the president can help return the country to tranquillity,” the publication wrote.
Nigeria is witnessing widespread chaos that has gotten worse since Mr. Buhari became president in 2015.
Meanwhile, reacting to the above allegations which has since gone viral, a statement from the Attorney General’s office said the report should be disregarded by Nigerians.
The Minister denied asking the President to suspend the Nigerian constitution as a way out of insecurity in the country.
He described himself as a true democrat who believes in the rule of law and constitutional order.
“The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is a constitutionally recognised one with its role and responsibilities embedded in the constitution.
“It is antithetical to common sense to think that the holder of such coveted Office as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will stoop to what was printed by the media.
“The government does not operate in secrecy as it is not a clandestine operation. Hence, Malami discharges his constitutionally recognised mandates in compliance with principles of transparency, openness and accountability.”
Read AGF Malami’s Statement in full
I am Pro-Constitutional Democracy- Malami
The attention of the Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has been drawn to a false and fictitious report alleging that there was a secret memo emanating from the Office to the Presidency.
General publics are hereby asked to disregard the media report as fabrications of anti-constitutional democratic stability in Nigeria.Malami remains a true democrat who believes in rules of law and tenant of democracy and Constitutional order.
The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is a constitutionally recognised one with its role and responsibilities embedded in the constitution.
Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu
It is antithetical to common sense to think that the holder of such coveted Office as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will stoop to what was printed by the media.
The Government does not operate in secrecy as it is not a clandestine operation. Hence, Malami discharges his constitutionally recognized mandates in compliance with principles of transparency, openness and accountability.
(Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice)
