Prosecution of Bandits, Corruption Slowed Down by Factors- Attorney General Malami

 The attorney general and minister of Justice Mr. Abubakar Malami has said that the prosecution of bandits, corruption, and other forms of state crimes is being slowed down by a lot of factors.

The attorney general was speaking on a Nigerian television morning breakfast show under the caption 6 years of Judiciary under Buhari Administrations monitor in our office said that but for these challenges, most of these cases would have been concluded.

“Everybody knows how the Covid 19 pandemic almost grounded everything. It is unfortunate, but there is nothing we can do about it, but to follow the right step as proscribed by health officials”

We are also living witnesses to the security challenges in the nation in general, so with the prevailing challenges extra security arrangement’s must be factored into mind especially, now that our security personnel are been overstretched

He said that prosecutions of such cases are a function of all agencies under the judiciary where these matters are investigated then charge to court but stresses that the situation is not as gloomy as may be seen.

Malami added that out of the desire for speedy conclusion of such cases because of distance and where the crimes were committed, his office after meeting with state attorney generals issued out fiat to state attorney generals to prosecute and monitor the cases in their states on behalf of his office and this is as far back as 2017. He also pointed at lack of funding and politics as other factors that have affected the effective prosecution of such cases.

“We are on a daily basis reviewing our situation and doing the needful in terms of bringing about the desired speed within the contest of legal framework which has given rise to the new administration of criminal justices act which in effect has also given rise to other policy decision such as the attorney general giving fiat to state attorney generals.”

Answering a question on the P&ID $10 billion dispute, Malami said that a new date in 2023 has just been given for the final determination of the matter has been announced, the federal government is looking at getting a new date that will bring the date much closer so that the matter can be concluded within the life span of this administration.