Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate allegations of corruption levelled against the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
This is coming barely two weeks after the Coalition of Concerned Northern Youth, called on President Buhari to sack Malami, over alleged flamboyant and luxurious lifestyle, which the coalition said, was at the detriment of Nigerians.
In a letter to President Buhari, weekend, the CSOs said the AGF should step aside, while the investigation lasted, in order not to jeopardize it.
The CSOs declared: “It has to be now or never. There are very strong allegations of corruption against Mr Abubakar Malami with clear evidence. President Buhari should act now,” the coalition said.
“We have listed these corruption cases after painstaking compilation of high profile corruption cases involving the country’s No 1 law officer. The President must act without delay.
“We are perturbed by these reports considering the revered position occupied by Mr. Malami, being the number one law officer of the country. Some of the allegations as conveyed in the media reports go to the root of breakdown of law and order and total disregard for the rule of law”, said the CSOs in the letter signed by chairman of Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), Olanrewaju Suraju; Debo Adeniran, chairman, Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) and Ezenwa Nwagwu on behalf of Say No Campaign.
The coalition added: “These allegations serve as a slap in the face to your Excellency’s administration foremost goal of ridding the Nation of corruption. These allegations are totally opposite the core objectives of your administration and international perception of the country.
“The AGF also authorized the sale of these vessels by companies under EFCC prosecution for similar offence of illegal bunkering and this action was admitted by the AGF through his media aide pleading presumption of innocence on the part of the accused, in the case being prosecuted by the Federal Government through EFCC.”
The Coalition of Concerned Northern Youth, in the statement a fortnight ago by its National Convener, Comrade Muhammed Ishaq, noted that “ the irresponsible ‘naira rain’ at a lavish wedding ceremony for the minister’s son, Abdulaziz, was tantamount to affront on the sensibility of Nigerians, particularly the youth, who wallow in abject poverty and massive unemployment.
The statement added: “We, as a coalition that represents millions of youths from various nooks and crannies of Northern Nigeria, are pained to witness a blatant display of extravagance during the wedding ceremony of Abubakar Malami’s son that took place last week.
“Considering the position Malami is occupying as the chief law officer of the federation and someone who hails from the region with highest number of the poor in Nigeria, it is unbecoming of him to allow such irrational spending and reckless display of extravagance by members of his family.”