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Dasuki, El-Zakzaky Still in Detention for Public Interest – Malami

Published

5 years ago

July 27, 2019

Eric

The immediate past Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, on Friday justified the continued detention of high-profile individuals despite court orders which granted them bail.

The Federal Government had in the last four years refused to obey the court orders that granted bail to the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and a former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (retd), both of whom were arrested in 2015.

President Muhammadu Buhari had while speaking at the 2018 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association held in Abuja, in August 2018 said the rule of law must be subject to the supremacy of the nation’s security and national interest.

But Malami, while being screened by the Senate as a ministerial nominee on Friday said Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) made provisions for the public interest to take preference to private interest.

He said the high-profile individuals remained in detention in public interest.

He said, “I concede as argued by the Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia South), that a Minister of Justice and Attorney General as stipulated by sections 36, 37 and 39 of the constitution, is supposed to protect the rights of any citizen from being violated even by the state, but where such rights conflict with the public interest, the latter overrides the former.

“The Office of the AGF has exclusive responsibility to uphold the public interest above personal interest of anybody.”

He explained further by citing the ruling of Supreme Court in Federal Government vs Asari Dokubo where on the grounds of public interest, the court refused him bail.

While Dasuki had been in detention at the instance of the Federal Government since December 2015 on alleged corrupt practices, El-Zakzaky and his wife had been detained by the Department of State Services since December 2015 for alleged treasonable offences.

Malami told the lawmakers that there should be deep-rooted collaboration between the executive and the legislature for bills passed by the latter to enjoy the assent of the executive.

He said, “The absence of collaboration and cooperation between the legislature and the executive accounted for high rate of bills rejection by the Presidency from the last (National) Assembly. For such not to repeat itself during the current ninth National Assembly, the culture of deep-rooted collaboration between the two arms of government has to be put in place.

“The culture of collaboration between the two arms has to be demonstrated right from the stage of conception or formulation of a bill to the level of public hearing and eventual passage.”

He pointed out that the rejection of the Petroleum Industry Bill by the President in the Eighth Assembly was because of some self-serving provisions that would empower individuals and compromise the interest of the host communities.

He said, “The public interest element of the role of the President requires that the public interest should be factored more than individual interest; that was fundamentally the reason among others it was not assented to by the President at the time it was transmitted.”

Malami, while addressing the Senate at the committee of the whole, chaired by the President of the Senate, Dr Ahmed Lawan, enjoined the ninth Assembly to involve all parties to a bill from its conception till it’s transmitted to the President for assent.

Expressing his reservation about the volume of rejected bills by the executive, Lawan said it cost the nation and the legislature huge resources to pass a bill and transmit same to the President for assent.

He, however, urged senators who are joining the executive to canvass more support for presidential assent to the bills from the National Assembly.

The Punch

Featured

Tinubu Approves Credit Scheme Takeoff to Facilitate Purchase of Cars, Houses

Published

38 mins ago

April 25, 2024

Eric

President Bola Tinubu has approved the takeoff of the first phase of the Consumer Credit Scheme to facilitate the purchase of houses and cars by working Nigerians.

In a statement on Wednesday, presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said the Consumer Credit Scheme will enhance the quality of life citizens by allowing them to “access goods and services upfront, paying responsibly over time”.

“It facilitates crucial purchases, such as homes, vehicles, education, and healthcare, essential for ongoing stability to pursue their aspirations,” the statement added.

“Through responsible repayment, individuals build credit histories, unlocking more opportunities for a better life. Additionally, the increased demand for goods and services stimulates local industry and job creation.

“The President believes every hardworking Nigerian should have access to social mobility, with consumer credit playing a pivotal role in achieving this vision.”

In line with the President’s directive to expand consumer credit access to Nigerians, the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) has launched a portal for Nigerians to express interest in receiving consumer credit.

“This initiative, in collaboration with financial institutions and cooperatives nationwide, aims to broaden consumer credit availability,” the statement noted, adding that working Nigerians interested in receiving consumer credit can visit CREDICORP’s website to express interest before the deadline date of May 15, 2024.

“The scheme will be rolled out in phases, starting with members of the civil service and cascading to members of the public.”

The CREDICORP’s objectives include: “(1) Strengthening Nigeria’s credit reporting systems, ensuring every economically active citizen has a dependable credit score. This score becomes personal equity they build, facilitating access to consumer credit.

“(2) Offering credit guarantees and wholesale lending to financial institutions dedicated to broadening consumer credit access today.

“(3) Promoting responsible consumer credit as a pathway to an improved quality of life, fostering a cultural shift towards growth and financial responsibility.”

Featured

Again, DStv, Gotv Jack Up Subscription Rates

Published

12 hours ago

April 24, 2024

Eric

Broadcasting company Multichoice has jacked up the prices of its offerings in Nigeria four months after its last increment.

The company reviewed prices in its packages across the board. The new prices will take effect from May 1, 2024.

With the latest price hike, the DStv Premium package increased from N29,500 to N37,000. Similarly, the DStv Compact+ went up from N19,800 to N25,000 while the Compact package increased from N12,500 to N15,700.

The Comfam package moved from N7,400 to N9,300. Yanga package moved up from 4,200 to N5,100 while Padi package increased from N2,950 to N3,600. HDPVR was increased from N4,000 to N5,000, the Access Fees package from N4,000 to N5,000, and XtraView moved from N4,000 to N5,000.

Meanwhile, the Gotv Supa+ package moved from N12,500 to N15,700, Supa package from N7,600 to N9,600, and Max package from N5,700 to N7,200.

While the Jolli package was jacked up from N3,950 to N4,850, the Jinja package moved from N2,700 to N3,300, and Smallie package from N1,300 to N1,575.

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It will be recalled that the company implemented an upward review of prices in December 2023, days after announcing a $72m loss in its financial statement for the third quarter of the year.

Checks on the company’s reviewed price list then showed a 20 per cent per cent hike in the company’s packages across the board.

Featured

I’ll Resign If Yaya Bello Eacapes Prosecution, EFCC Chair Vows

Published

1 day ago

April 23, 2024

Eric

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has sworn to follow the prosecution of the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to a logical conclusion.

In a chat with journalists at the EFCC Headquarters in the Jabi area of Abuja on Tuesday, the anti-graft crusader vowed to resign as EFCC chairman if Bello is not prosecuted.

He added that all those who obstructed the arrest of the former governor would be brought to justice.

The EFCC is seeking to arraign Bello on 19 counts bordering on alleged money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N80.2 billion.

He said that no matter what anyone does or the amount of attack against the anti-graft agency, he and his men will not relent in helping to sanitise the country.

Olukoyede said the EFCC needs the support of Nigerians to succeed, emphasizing that if the agency fails, Nigeria fails. He stated that the efforts made currently have helped the value of the Naira and the foreign market.