Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, has called for the immediate resignation of Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation, for asking the International Criminal Court not to escalate its investigation against the Boko Haram sect.
The group, in a reaction by Yinka Odumakin, its spokesperson, on Friday, April 13, 2018, stated that Malami could not double as the country’s number one law officer and as Boko Haram defender.
The AGF had while hosting Justice Chile Ebro-Osuji, the new ICC President, in Abuja on Thursday, April 12, 2018, complained about the court’s investigation against Boko Haram and the Nigerian military, describing it as worrisome.
“Presently, the ICC has escalated the eight potential cases against Nigeria – six against the Boko Haram and two against the military – from the initial preliminary examination to preliminary investigation.
“This is worrisome, as Nigeria has demonstrated beyond doubt, and in absolute cooperation with the ICC, that it is willing and able and, as a matter of fact, it is indeed arresting, investigating and prosecuting anyone that commits an offence that falls within the Rome Statute of the ICC.
“The above being the case, Nigeria views the escalation of the eight potential cases as uncalled for in the circumstance,” Malami was quoted to have said.
But Odumakin, in his reaction, accused the AGF of turning his office into Boko Haram’s media department, stressing that Nigerians should be worried by the release of many top insurgents in recent times by the government.
“If the ICC is Investigating Boko Haram, are they investigating the north and by extension, the Federal Government of Nigeria? This could have been a Freudian slip, but since we have not seen a denial from Malami, it means he is no longer the AGF of Nigeria, he can’t be the nation’s AGF and be speaking on behalf of Boko Haram, he should therefore resign,” he stated.
He added, “For the Attorney General to turn his office to the media department of Boko Haram is almost unheard of and Nigerians should be worried about this.
“In recent times, we have seen notorious Boko Haram kingpins being set free by the courts and the government has released hundreds of Boko Haram into the system.”
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