The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, has warned state governors and others who enjoy immunity that they are not free from investigation on the issue of 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, as we know constitutionally, are the exceptions of immunity. And to the best of my knowledge, those exceptions do not apply to investigation. 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 not, and whether the action borders on criminality,” he said.
Malamai, who spoke to news men in Abuja in reaction to the arrest of some judges and the controversies such arrests elicited, stressed that Muhammadu Buhari’s government has resolved to fight corruption, and would not be deterred by class or reputation of suspects.
“Once crimes and criminality are concerned, nobody is an exception. I think the undertone should be exclusively the consideration of the existence of a prima facie case; existence of reasonable grounds for suspicion of commission of a crime.
“And if there are, no member of the legislature, judiciary and 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.”
Malami said that the search and subsequent arrest of seven judges were steps in an ongoing investigation that even constitutionally guaranteed immunity does not prevent.
The State Security Service (SSS) had raided the homes of seven judges in six states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory between Friday night and Saturday morning.
During the raid, the SSS operatives said that they recovered a huge stash of money in local and foreign currencies. Seven judges were arrested, and have since been released on bail.
Those arrested include Justice Sylvester Nguta and John Okoro of the Supreme Court and Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court Abuja.
Others are Justice Muazu Pindiga of Gombe State; Kabiru Auta of Kano State, Innocent Umezulike, of Enugu State and Justice Mohammed Tsamiya, an appeal court judge in Ilorin. [myad]
