AGF, Malami Can’t Defend Buhari’s Past But Justifies Detaining Sowore

The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, struck
a defiant tone when he was quizzed on why the government of
President Muhammad Buhari chose to detain Sahara Reporters
publisher, Omoyele Sowore, for calling for a revolution.

Mr Malami had his hands full when he fielded questions on a
“Focus on Africa” BBC interview obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, Not
Nairalaw

“We have at hand a situation whereby someone that contested
election and lost and is eventually calling on revolution and
change of government through means other (than what) the
constitution recognizes. And to our (the government’s) mind, that
constitutes a treasonable felony,” Mr Malami said.

His interviewer, Peter Okwoche, then questioned the morality of
President Muhammadu Buhari, who in his first coming as Head of
State toppled a democratically elected government of late Shehu
Shagari in a coup in 1983 and in 2011 called for protests akin to
those that took place in Egypt. He asked what justification a
government led by a man like Mr Buhari had for detaining Mr Sowore
who only called for a revolution.

At first, Mr Malami flinched with his eyes closed before he
carefully maintained that he could only talk about Mr Sowore’s
case, suggesting that he could not respond to or justify his
principal’s past.

Mr Okwoche pressed on. He cited one of the charges levelled
against Mr Sowore, which is “insulting the president”, demanding
what the government’s intent was to have made such accusation in a
democratic dispensation.

“As far as I’m concerned,” came Mr Malami’s response, “treason
is treason. If there is a case for treason, you have, as a matter
of obligation and right, to present a case before the
government.

“What we have done is to present our case before the judiciary
which enjoys independence and freedom to determine one thing or the
other.

“Not that we have taken the laws in our hand by adjudging him
guilty but by presenting him before judicial process so that he
could be accorded the opportunity to present a counter case,” Mr
Malami said.

The interviewer also raised instances of human rights violations
by the current government including the mass murder of Shiites, and
the detention of journalist Jones Abiri and Abah Jalingo.

Mr Malami justified these instances by suggesting that they
probable plotted to change the government without the
constitutionally recognised means, election.

The interview was held before Mr Sowore was granted bail on
Tuesday by a high court. However, despite Mr Malami’s claim of
respecting the judicial process, the government has refused to
release the activist.

Mr Sowore, charged with a seven-count charge, including
treasonable felony for planning a #RevolutionNow protest, was
granted bail after spending over 45 days in SSS detention. However,
he has continued to be held despite meeting the bail term as
certified by the court.

Some civic groups , lawyers and joint body of academic have
called on the government to drop the charges against Sowore.

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