…Sagay faults AGF, says case shouldn’t be dropped

The Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against
Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), has faulted the Attorney
General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), for advising
the Federal Government to drop all the charges filed against
individuals and firms implicated in the $1.1bn Malabu oil scam.

Sagay said this during an interview with our correspondent on
Monday.

The PACAC chairman said the matter was criminal in nature and
should therefore not be treated as a civil matter.

The senior advocate said, “My view is that this is not a civil
case or breach of contract or negligence. This is an offence
against the country, a criminal act. Although the AGF is empowered
to withdraw even criminal cases filed by the Federal Government,
this is supposed to satisfy the interest of the country at
large.

“This is a case in which Nigeria was defrauded of about $1.1bn
and it was perpetrated mainly by those who were supposed to act in
the interest of the nation. For me, such breach of trust involving
colossal fraud is a very serious thing. It is not something you
negotiate. It is criminal. The only thing that can happen is for
the accused people to plead guilty and opt for plea bargain.”

Sagay also faulted Malami’s claim that there was not enough
evidence to prosecute the accused persons.

The PACAC chairman added, “On this same case, people are being
prosecuted in Italy and in Britain a lot of money has been
recovered. So, it is strange to say that in the home turf, where it
all originated and where all the evidences exist, there is no
evidence. It is strange.

“It is also a problem because we know without any iota of doubt
that past attorneys general have made money from this Malabu
scandal. I am not talking of the current one. They have made money
which is documented.

“For him to say the case should be withdrawn will look as if
there is some form of solidarity or espirit de corps with previous
AGFs. If the evidence is not enough, let the charges be withdrawn
and they go do more investigations, gather more evidence, and then
file charges again. But to say Nigeria should drop the case
completely after losing over $1bn is unacceptable.”

The Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against
Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), has faulted the Attorney
General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), for advising
the Federal Government to drop all the charges filed against
individuals and firms implicated in the $1.1bn Malabu oil
scam.

Sagay said this during an interview with our correspondent on
Monday.

The PACAC chairman said the matter was criminal in nature and
should therefore not be treated as a civil matter.

The senior advocate said, “My view is that this is not a civil
case or breach of contract or negligence. This is an offence
against the country, a criminal act. Although the AGF is empowered
to withdraw even criminal cases filed by the Federal Government,
this is supposed to satisfy the interest of the country at
large.

“This is a case in which Nigeria was defrauded of about $1.1bn
and it was perpetrated mainly by those who were supposed to act in
the interest of the nation. For me, such breach of trust involving
colossal fraud is a very serious thing. It is not something you
negotiate. It is criminal. The only thing that can happen is for
the accused people to plead guilty and opt for plea bargain.”

Sagay also faulted Malami’s claim that there was not enough
evidence to prosecute the accused persons.

The PACAC chairman added, “On this same case, people are being
prosecuted in Italy and in Britain a lot of money has been
recovered. So, it is strange to say that in the home turf, where it
all originated and where all the evidences exist, there is no
evidence. It is strange.

“It is also a problem because we know without any iota of doubt
that past attorneys general have made money from this Malabu
scandal. I am not talking of the current one. They have made money
which is documented.

“For him to say the case should be withdrawn will look as if
there is some form of solidarity or espirit de corps with previous
AGFs. If the evidence is not enough, let the charges be withdrawn
and they go do more investigations, gather more evidence, and then
file charges again. But to say Nigeria should drop the case
completely after losing over $1bn is unacceptable.”