Subsequently,
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar
Malami, has authorised the appeal, to demonstrate government’s total commitment
to the war against corruption.
Malami, who
disclosed this in a statement yesterday, dismissed insinuations that he has not
demonstrated commitment to the anti-corruption war.
The
minister, through a private prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), and a
lawyer in the AGF office has filed 11 grounds notice of appeal against Saraki’s
acquittal, describing the CCT’s judgment as unreasonable.
The
statement was jointly signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr.
Salihu Isah, and the Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution (AGF
Office), Mr. Okoi Obono-Obla. It was a reaction to a media report (not Daily
Sun) in which a member of the Prof. Itse Sagay-led Presidential Advisory
Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Femi Odekunle, had, at an event on
Saturday in Abuja, raised questions about the AGF’s anti-corruption war.
The AGF
maintained that despite some recent setbacks suffered by the anti-corruption
war, the fight would continue to be fought “resolutely, painstakingly,
doggedly, purposefully and determinedly with all the constitutional and legal
arsenals at the disposal of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
He said to
demonstrate that, he was “fully and completely committed, dedicated and
supports the war against corruption”, he authorised the filing of the appeal
against Saraki’s acquittal by the CCT. The AGF wishes to assure Nigerians that
despite some recent setbacks recorded in some of the cases involving
politically exposed people; the war against corruption is fully on course.
“The federal
government is more than ever before committed towards the complete eradication
of the scourge of corruption and graft in the country….”
Regardless,
Saraki’s spokesman, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said his principal has not been served of
such process.
“We’re not
aware of the notice,” Olaniyonu said yesterday.
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