Corruption: Nobody’ll be spare of investigation, says AGF

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice [AGF], Abubakar Malami [SAN],on Tuesday expressed support for the arrest of two justices of Supreme Court and some judges by the Department of State Security Service(DSS), saying nobody is above the law.
He said that no individual or arm of government  would be spared the rod in the fight against corruption.
Malami (SAN),made the clarification amidst criticisms and uproar by individuals and associations Nigerian Bar Association [NBA] that followed the raid of some judges home and arrest by DSS.
The Chief Law officer of the Federation who fielded questions shortly after he inaugurated the Committee for the second cycle of the review of implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption [UNCAC] said nobody is exempted from being investigated including the President, Vice President, Governors and their deputies who are covered by the immunity clause under section 308 of the 1999 constitution.
He said so long as there are allegations of crime against anybody, he or she can be investigated, no matter how highly placed, as no one is above the law.
The arrest of Judges, which started in kano and Gombe states last Friday swept some senior judges in the Federal capital Territory [FCT], Abuja including  Justice Sylvester Ngwuta and Justice John Okoro of the Supreme Court and Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the federal high court.
Also arrested in the raid was Justice Muazu Pindiga, who served on the elections tribunal in Rivers State.
The AGF in justifying the action of the DSS yesterday in the presence of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC], Ibrahim Magu, his counterpart from the Independent corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission [ICPC], Ekpo Nta, said: “The fundamental consideration is whether an allegation of a commission of a crime and whether the need for investigation is there and whether the relevant provisions and indeed all circumstances of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act are put into consideration in our conduct to the fight against corruption.
“The bottom line is that we have a responsibility to fight corruption. Corruption is a crime and nobody regardless of how highly placed is exempted as far as issues that border on crimes and criminalities are concerned.
The limited exceptions we know constitutionally are the exceptions of immunity and to the best of my knowledge that applies to those who are exempted.
And even for those that are conferred with the immunity, the right to investigate has not been taken away constitutionally.
So I think the framework and the circumstances within which we are operating are clearly whether there exists the right to investigate or whether there is none and whether the action borders on criminality. Once crimes and criminality are concerned, nobody is an exception. I think the undertone should be exclusively the consideration of existence of a prima facie case, existence of reasonable grounds for suspicion of commission of a crime. And if there are, no legislatures, no judiciary and no executive can definitely be exempted from investigation.
I think where we are now is the point of investigation and that is what is taking place.”
Meanwhile, performing the inauguration of the Committee, Malami reiterated the commitment of the President Buhari administration to the fight against corruption.
The Minister explained that the review which focus on chapters II and V of UNCAC relating to preventive measures against corruption in public and private sectors and asset recovery, was necessary particularly now that corruption has created a great disconnect between nation’s wealth and quality of life of ordinary citizens.
He observed that the objective of UNCAC was in absolute synergy and harmony with one of the cardinal objectives of the Buhari administration, which is “to fight
Corruption in all its manifestation including adopting effective preventive measures against corruption, recovery of stolen assets and putting in place systems and processes to profitably manage the stolen but recovered assets.”
The AGF therefore charged the Committee to be transparent and efficient as possible in carrying out its mandate.