• About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Friday, May 30, 2025
  • Login
Vital News
  • Frontpage
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • National
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • More
    • Crime
    • Judiciary
    • Security
No Result
View All Result
  • Frontpage
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • National
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • More
    • Crime
    • Judiciary
    • Security
No Result
View All Result
Vital News
No Result
View All Result
Home Judiciary

Lawyers disagree over proposed amendment to split office of AGF from Minister of Justice

Vital News by Vital News
February 7, 2022
in Judiciary
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Bridget Edokwe
The Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review has recommended the separation of the office of the Attorney – General of the Federation from the Minister of Justice.

According to reports, the recommendation was considered to avoid the visible politicization of the two critical offices.

The lawmakers envisage that the minister of justice will deal with policy and administrative issues, while the AGF will oversee dispensation of justice without fear or favour

However, the proposed constitutional amendment, has thrown up a diverse opinion from the legal community.

While some Senior legal practitioners (lawyers) in the country, who spoke in separate interviews threw their weight behind the move, others who are opposed to it called for a review of the appointment process.

RelatedStories

Islamic Cleric To Die By Hanging For Killing, Stealing N300,000 From Client In Osun

Emefiele Drags FG To Appeal Court Over Forfeiture Of 753 Units Of Houses In Abuja Estate

Governor Uzodimma Sacks Imo Justice Commissioner, Akaolisa

Kogi Heads To Supreme Court Over N1.07 billion Award to Former State Deputy Governor, Simon Achuba

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN), Ahmed Raji who threw his weight behind the proposer stated that “the occupant of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation should be a career person, while that of the minister of Justice should be a politician.

” The Minister will be appointed by the President like other ministers, while the AGF will be a career person like the Director of Public Prosecution(DPP) in those days.”

Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Yunus Uztaz, said: “The office of the Attorney General must be totally separated from that of the Minister of Justice. An AGF is not supposed to have any political inclination or belong to any political party.

“That is the only way he can discharge his functions and be a fully reflective AGF.

“The moment an AGF has a political party or belongs to one, he cannot perform his functions independently.

“To ensure that that office is sanctified, the AGF should not be appointed or removed at the pleasure of the Executive.

“He should only be removed by two-thirds votes of both houses of the Legislature. The moment that is done, the AGF can be expected to perform his duties independently and justifiably.

“Unless you separate them, you can never have an independently minded AGF. An AGF is not supposed to have any political sympathy. In fact, it should be such that the public should be able to ask the AGF questions when they are not satisfied with his performance.

” At least 15 SANS should be shortlisted and each of them made to pass through the rigours of screening by the National Assembly, at least 15 of them. Then the AGF should be open to questions from outsiders.

” The moment an AGF is loyal to a political party or his appointor, he can never act independently. When the AGF cannot act independently, then there is no justice”.

However, in his contributions to the debate, Chief Oba Maduabuchi (SAN), kicked against the proposed amendment, saying its a mere duplication of duties and waste of resources to split the office of the AGF into two.

“I don’t think it is the right thing to do. How can you separate the office? The AGF is also the Minister of Justice. It is mere polemics. To bifurcate the office of the AGF and say this is what the AGF does and this is what the Minister does?

” Any other job or duty which the AGF can do outside the constitution is done by the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary.

” There is no need separating the office. Will the AGF be the Minister? Are you expecting two Ministers in the Federal Ministry of Justice? It is unnecessary duplication of functions.

“We are saying the cost of running the government is very expensive and yet we want to create additional cost. All the Ministers are appointed by the President. How do you want the AGF to be appointed? Do you want him to be a civil servant?

” What we should be aiming at is to strengthen our institutions and make them work better. While are we focusing on individuals? We should make the office of the AGF more powerful such that the President cannot control him. What they should be saying is to make the selection and appointing process credible.

“The person a President want to appoint as AGF should be made known for public scrutiny so that the people can decide whether he is fit and proper person for the job. Unlike today, when you name about 10 lawyers in your ministerial list and then anyone you like will be made the AGF, and then, eventually, it turns out that he is not a proper and fit person for the job.

” So, what should concern us is the process of his appointment and then strengthen the office of the AGF to make it independent like in the United States of America.

“Look at the Attorney General of the USA. When he decided to probe former President Donald Trump on whether the US was colluding with Russia. There was nothing Trump did to stop the probe, but he couldn’t because the office of the AG is strong and independent. That is were we should be going and not trying to duplicate duties.”

Speaking against the proposed law, Abdul Ibrahim(SAN) said the separation will lead to another crisis as has to do with duties and functions of the holders of the offices.

“The question is what are the functions of the AGF and those of the Minister of Justice? But I think they are playing politics with it. It is not the occupant of the office of AGF that is the problem. What matter is allowing him to function very well without interference and political consideration.

” That is the main problem we have and not splitting. Its about strengthening the institutions to make them work effectively. If you strengthen the system and the occupant of the office knows that his loyalty first and foremost lies with the country and the institution and not the president or person that appointed him, then we can not have any reason to complain. “ (BarristerNG.com/vitalnews)

Tags: AGFamendmentdisagreelawyers
Previous Post

Benin extends Igboho’s detention by six months

Next Post

Amended Electoral bill bars ministers, commissioners, other political appointees from contesting primaries

Vital News

Vital News

RelatedStories

Islamic Cleric To Die By Hanging For Killing, Stealing N300,000 From Client In Osun
Crime

Islamic Cleric To Die By Hanging For Killing, Stealing N300,000 From Client In Osun

May 29, 2025
Emefiele Drags FG To Appeal Court Over Forfeiture Of 753 Units Of Houses In Abuja Estate
Judiciary

Emefiele Drags FG To Appeal Court Over Forfeiture Of 753 Units Of Houses In Abuja Estate

May 29, 2025
Police Arraign Ekiti Woman For Reneging On Marriage Promise After Collecting N607,500 From Suitor
Judiciary

Governor Uzodimma Sacks Imo Justice Commissioner, Akaolisa

May 26, 2025
Governor Ododo Urges Muslims To Imbibe Patience, Sacrifice Compassion As Ramadan Begins
Judiciary

Kogi Heads To Supreme Court Over N1.07 billion Award to Former State Deputy Governor, Simon Achuba

May 26, 2025
EFCC Secures Conviction Of 23-Year-Old Cybercrime Kingpin In Ilorin, Assets Worth Over N150mln Forfeited
Crime

EFCC Secures Conviction Of 23-Year-Old Cybercrime Kingpin In Ilorin, Assets Worth Over N150mln Forfeited

May 21, 2025
Next Post

Amended Electoral bill bars ministers, commissioners, other political appointees from contesting primaries

NFF names Eguavoen Interim Manager, Amuneke , Chief Coach of Super Eagles

Zamfara House of Assembly serves Deputy Governor impeachment notice

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow Us

Recommended

INEC Delists 1, 226,359 New Voters Over Multiple Registration

3 years ago
FG Says Floods Looming, Alerts Nigerians To Rising Levels Of Water In River Niger

FG Says Floods Looming, Alerts Nigerians To Rising Levels Of Water In River Niger

9 months ago
SWEAT, BLOOD, AND TEARS , A reading of Lola Akande’s novel, ‘What It Takes’

SWEAT, BLOOD, AND TEARS , A reading of Lola Akande’s novel, ‘What It Takes’

2 years ago
Kogi Guber Poll : PDP To Flag Off Campaign In Okene Oct. 24

PDP Governors Urge FG To Work With States, LGs To Tackle Poverty, Insecurity

1 year ago

Instagram

    Please install/update and activate JNews Instagram plugin.

Categories

  • Agriculture/ Water/ Mineral
  • Aviation
  • Business
  • Crime
  • Culture
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Football
  • Foreign
  • Gender
  • Health
  • Judiciary
  • Labour
  • National
  • News
  • Oil & Gas
  • Opinion
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Power
  • Religion
  • Security
  • Sports
  • Transport
  • Uncategorized

Topics

Abiodun Abuja APC arrest Atiku Bandits Bello Benue Buhari CBN Court Dangote death drugs Economy EFCC Election elections FG Fraud gunmen Hajj INEC Kano kidnap Kill Kogi Kwara Lagos NDLEA Niger Nigeria Ododo Ogun Oyo PDP Police Power refinery rescue road Security Senate students Tinubu
No Result
View All Result

Highlights

Midterm Performance : Taraba State Rated Least In IGR, Good Governance

School Wall Collapses On Students Writing WAEC In Taraba

Army Armourer, 17 Other Soldiers, 15 Mobile Police Officers, Traditional Ruler Arrested For Selling Arms To Criminals

Islamic Cleric To Die By Hanging For Killing, Stealing N300,000 From Client In Osun

Emefiele Drags FG To Appeal Court Over Forfeiture Of 753 Units Of Houses In Abuja Estate

NDLEA Arrests Two Pilgrims Heading To Saudi Arabia With Cocaine

Trending

21 Die, 10 Missing In Niger Flood Disaster
Environment

21 Die, 10 Missing In Niger Flood Disaster

by Vital News
May 29, 2025
0

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has confirmed the death of 21 persons in massive floods...

Sidi Ould Tah Elected New President Of AfDB

Sidi Ould Tah Elected New President Of AfDB

May 29, 2025
President Tinubu Appoints Former Speaker, Yakubu Dogara As Chairman Of NCGC

President Tinubu Appoints Former Speaker, Yakubu Dogara As Chairman Of NCGC

May 29, 2025
Midterm Performance : Taraba State Rated Least In IGR, Good Governance

Midterm Performance : Taraba State Rated Least In IGR, Good Governance

May 29, 2025
School Wall Collapses On Students Writing WAEC In Taraba

School Wall Collapses On Students Writing WAEC In Taraba

May 29, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
Vital News

Vital News is an online newspaper with a mission to uphold professional journalism by reporting and publishing only facts and figures-based news reports across Nigeria and beyond.

Recent News

  • 21 Die, 10 Missing In Niger Flood Disaster May 29, 2025
  • Sidi Ould Tah Elected New President Of AfDB May 29, 2025
  • President Tinubu Appoints Former Speaker, Yakubu Dogara As Chairman Of NCGC May 29, 2025

Categories

  • Agriculture/ Water/ Mineral
  • Aviation
  • Business
  • Crime
  • Culture
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Football
  • Foreign
  • Gender
  • Health
  • Judiciary
  • Labour
  • National
  • News
  • Oil & Gas
  • Opinion
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Power
  • Religion
  • Security
  • Sports
  • Transport
  • Uncategorized

© 2022 Vital News - . All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Frontpage
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • National
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • More
    • Crime
    • Judiciary
    • Security

© 2022 Vital News - Vital News by Vital News.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In