The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kebbi State, has condemned the continued detention of former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and has demanded his immediate release.
Addressing a press conference in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday, the chairman of ADC in Kebbi, Sufyan Bala, alleged that the act was a mere witch-hunt, political victimisation, and a breach of the law by a law enforcement agency, contrary to the provisions of the Constitution it seeks to enforce.
“It’s evident that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has graduated from a law enforcement agency to the law itself.
“The last we checked, the EFCC is a product of the law, and it is therefore, bound by the basic provisions of the grand norm of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which gives vent to the law enforcement agencies.
“In other words, as a law enforcement agency, the EFCC must not only enforce the law but must also be seen to enforce the law. But when a law enforcement agency is biased and selective, it presents a serious challenge to the country it is meant to serve.
“Indeed, no discerning Nigerian citizen will fail to notice the increasing weaponisation of many Nigerian law enforcement agencies and the EFCC in particular,” he said.
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Bala claimed detention is a desperate effort, not only to frustrate members of the opposition parties but also to force them to join the ruling party, by hook or by crook.
He, however, said that members of the ADC had collectively resolved to maintain their membership of the party, adding that the party remained the only platform for the “salvation of our beleaguered fatherland.”
The chairman disclosed that ADC members had collectively resolved to challenge the ruling party at the polls, saying: “We are not unaware of its resolute determination to crush dissent.
“We are also not oblivious of our rights and privileges, as free citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Thus, we will not allow any attempt, by any individual or group, to deny us our inalienable rights to enjoy the full rights of citizenship under the law.
“Democracy can not survive or coexist under fear, intimidation, perdition, and lawlessness.
“Consequently, we wish to condemn in the strongest terms the undue and illegal detention by the EFCC of Abubakar Malami, SAN, and the immediate past Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation.”
Bala used the medium to call for the immediate release of the ex-Attorney-General as provided for under section 37(4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)
“The EFCC should and must not be seen as an attack dog of the ruling party. Indeed, our demand for his immediate release is rooted in the provisions of the law. Therefore, it must not be seen otherwise.
“After all, the EFCC has met the demands of the local APC members, who have been calling for Malami’s arrest and detention, as if that will salvage their dwindling future, cover their failings or stop their destined slide into political perdition,” he noted.
