Prior to AGF appointment Malami was lawyer to Anti-Saraki Forum, Senate to grill him tomorrow

The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami will appear before the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters tomorrow Thursday, June 23. over possible conflict of interest in reopening the case against Senate President Saraki and his deputy Ekweremadu  for alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Orders.

Malami was one of several lawyers who represented senators of the Unity Forum that sued Saraki, Ekweremadu and others last year for allegedly forging the Senate rules. However, Justice Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had ruled that the alleged forgery of the Senate rules were the chamber’s internal affair and dismissed the case about a year ago prior to Malami’s appointment as the AGF.

Malami was earlier billed to appear before the committee last Thursday in accordance with the Senate resolution of June 21, 2016, which mandated the committee to summon the AGF. But following his inability to honour last Thursday’s invitation, the committee rescheduled the meeting for Thursday, June 30 (tomorrow).

Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) who moved the motion to summon the AGF said the decision of the AGF to reopen the forgery charge after Justice Gabriel Kolawole of an Abuja Federal High Court had struck out the case was a threat to democracy.

The committee in a letter entitled “Re: Eminent Threat to Our Democracy – Request for Adjournment”, sent to  the Office of the AGF on Monday June 27, was signed by the committee chairman, Senator David Umaru.

The letter read: “I write with reference to your correspondence on the above subject matter with Ref. HAGF/NASS/2016/Vol. 1/24, dated 23rd June, 2016, whereby you requested for an adjournment of the meeting of the committee, which was supposed to hold on Thursday, 23rd June 2016, to enable you prepare your response.

“The committee has considered your request and having regard to the reason adduced, acceded to the request for an adjournment. Accordingly, the meeting is now scheduled to hold on Thursday, 30th June 2016 at noon prompt.

“The venue is Senate meeting room 313, 3rd floor, New Senate building, National Assembly complex. You are by this letter, invited to appear before the committee on the date and time mentioned above. Please, accept the assurances of our highest consideration and esteem.”

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