AGF denies leaking report of CJN’s probe

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) on Friday expressed his displeasure over what he called the unfortunate and unbecoming innuendo by certain persons and agencies which accuses his office of leaking what was termed as classified information to the public.

The minister was reacting to media report insinuating that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen and other former and serving government and judicial officers are under investigation for alleged corruption.

The report also listed other high-profile Nigerians who it claimed are purportedly under investigation for corruption to include former Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, present Minister of Solid Minerals Development and former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, a sitting judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdu Kafarati, among others.

A statement by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Minister, Comrade Salihu Othman Isah stated categorically that the office of the AGF did not, at any time leak such information to the media as wrongly alluded by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“The pertinent question to ask is, since the EFCC has publicly denied that the CJN is not under probe or investigation; is it then possible for the same EFCC to have forwarded any classified information on a non-existent probe or investigation of the CJN to the AGF?

“It also goes to show that the Office of the AGF could not have leaked a non-existent classified information on an equally non-existent probe or investigation”, Isah said in the statement made available to newsmen yesterday.

The statement added that the AGF, “Strongly frowns at any unsavoury attempt or conspiracy to drag his office and that of the CJN into petty squabbles in the midst of burning national issues.

“We therefore use this opportunity to reaffirm our deep respect for the distinguished person and office of the CJN and we will never be party to any unpatriotic effort to denigrate his exalted office.

“We wish to state unequivocally that the office of the AGF will continue to collaborate with His Lordship in his efforts to reform the judiciary and galvanize the anti-graft war”, the statement added.

Malami said the present administration appreciates Justice Onnoghen’s unwavering support for its anti-corruption drive and stated further that the government is neither aware of nor privy to any purported probe or ongoing investigation of the CJN by any security or anti-graft agency.

Malami, the statement said dissociates himself from the baseless allusion or suggestion obviously made in bad faith to the effect that His Lordship is under any form of probe or investigation whatsoever.

In view of the above, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice wishes to emphatically reiterate that he has profound confidence in the Chief Justice of Nigeria and wishes His Lordship the very best in the discharge or performance of his daunting duties to the nation at large.