Sack Aondoakaa now, Gani begs Yar'Adua
By Innocent Anaba
Posted to the Web: Monday, September 17, 2007




LAGOS — LAGOS lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), yesterday from his sick bed in London, called for the immediate sack of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), arguing that for as long as he (Aondoakaa) remained in office, Nigeria would continue to be a laughing stock before the international community.

Fawehinmi, in a statement his said, “although I am in pain of medical treatment here in London, nevertheless, I am appalled and disturbed by the negative and unconstitutional role being played by the AGF, Aondoakaa, with regards to the anti-corruption war embarked upon by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

"Since assuming office on July 26, 2007, the Chief Law Officer of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Aondoakaa, has been giving the unmistakable impression that the crusade against corruption in Nigeria is not in his agenda and that the activities of the institutions engaged in the war against corruption do not have his support.

“The actions and utterances of the AGF are not in consonance with the avowed pronouncements and promises of President Yar’ Adua to combat corruption in all its ramification. The AGF has predicated his queer position on his power under section 174 of the constitution and his distorted understanding of the rule of law. On the contrary, he is acting against the fundamentals of his power under section 174 of the constitution and in violation of the rule of law.”
Fawehinm said, in summary, the Office of the AGF has gravely imperiled  by its present holder, Aondoakaa, because:

“He absolutely failed to appreciate the dual nature of his office as both the Chief Law Officer of the Federation and Minister of Justice in the government of President Umant Musa Yar’ Adua.

“Aondoakaa, does not know what the public interest is with regards to the issue of corruption in Nigeria. He has chosen to ignore the fundamental problem of our country, which the constitution has addressed.

“Aondoakaa, is deliberately ignoring the constitutional command in Section 15 (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 which provides that the ‘State shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.’

“He does not appreciate the law against corruption handed down by the Supreme Court in the case of A-G., Ondo State v. A.-G., Federation (2002) 9 NWLR (Pt.772) 222 which enjoined all Nigerians to fight against corruption and to ensure that institutions set up under the Act of the National Assembly which gives effect to Section 15 (5) of the Constitution should be allowed to function and not sabotaged.

“By his pronouncements and attitude, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, has been unduly castigating, humiliating and vilifying public institutions and their officers assigned to fight corruption by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and the Act of the National Assembly and confirmed by the decision of the Supreme Court in A.-G., Ondo State v. A.-G., Federation referred to above. The behaviour of the Attorney-General of the Federation unequivocally demonstrates his bias for past public officers who are now accused of corruption by these constitutionally and legally established institutions.

“Aondoakaa, since coming into office as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation has not displayed the decorum and respectability of his office thereby eroding the public confidence the office should attract or engender.

“What the Nigeria’s AGF has been doing since coming into office is diametrically against the internationally accepted role of a nation’s Attorney-General.

“The present AGF, Aondoakaa, should be removed from office by the President Yar’Adua, because as long as he remains in office, Nigeria will continue to be a laughing stock in the international community because the whole world is now fighting corruption by political leaders, who have bled their people to socio-economic stupor and have made life unbearable for them in the midst of plenty.

“He does not appreciate the law against corruption handed down by the Supreme Court in the case of A-G., Ondo State v. A.-G., Federation (2002) 9 NWLR (Pt.772) 222 which enjoined all Nigerians to fight against corruption and to ensure that institutions set up under the Act of the National Assembly which gives effect to Section 15 (5) of the Constitution should be allowed to function and not sabotaged