Jonathan frustrated move to separate AGF's office from Justice minister's - Ekweremadu
Mon Jul 25, 2016 10:40:am Politics
7.4K By sosa hills
The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has said that the failure of the immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan to sign the Forth Alteration Bill stalled the separation of the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) from that of the Minister of Justice.
He said the plan is still possible if Nigerians desire it as a way of strengthening justice delivery in the country.
He stated this on Sunday while fielding questions from journalists during a tour of the construction site of the National Headquarters of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja where he also commended the Bar leadership, under Mr Augustine Alegeh (SAN) for continuing with the project started by his predecessor.
He said "I believe in the separation of the two offices. I go for it any time, any day. This is because it will guarantee financial independence, security of tenure, and make the holder of the office of the Attorney-General at the state and federal levels to be autonomous in thinking and approach to the idea of justice. "It will ensure that citizens have access to justice, since the officer will not be dictated to by any external interest or influence.
"During the last constitution amendment, we (members of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution in the 7th National Assembly) recommended it to our colleagues, based on inputs from Nigerians, and they graciously adopted it.
"Unfortunately, the last President did not sign it. Although, we will be looking at all the issues again, the decision on the separation, or any other issue for that matter, will depend on what other colleagues and Nigerians would think. But as a person, I strongly believe in it."
He said the plan is still possible if Nigerians desire it as a way of strengthening justice delivery in the country.
He stated this on Sunday while fielding questions from journalists during a tour of the construction site of the National Headquarters of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja where he also commended the Bar leadership, under Mr Augustine Alegeh (SAN) for continuing with the project started by his predecessor.
He said "I believe in the separation of the two offices. I go for it any time, any day. This is because it will guarantee financial independence, security of tenure, and make the holder of the office of the Attorney-General at the state and federal levels to be autonomous in thinking and approach to the idea of justice. "It will ensure that citizens have access to justice, since the officer will not be dictated to by any external interest or influence.
"During the last constitution amendment, we (members of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution in the 7th National Assembly) recommended it to our colleagues, based on inputs from Nigerians, and they graciously adopted it.
"Unfortunately, the last President did not sign it. Although, we will be looking at all the issues again, the decision on the separation, or any other issue for that matter, will depend on what other colleagues and Nigerians would think. But as a person, I strongly believe in it."
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