I never asked President Buhari to suspend the constitution- Malami

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has debunked media reports claiming he has asked President Buhari to suspend the use of the constitution. 

 Some section of the media had alleged that the Minister in a secret memo to the president advised that the fundamental rights of all Nigerians as guaranteed under chapter IV of the constitution be suspended owing to insecurity. 

 In a statement released by his media aide, Umar Gwandu, the Minister denied ever making such a suggestion to President Buhari. 

The statement in part reads

 “The attention of the office of the honourable attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has been drawn to a false and fictitious report alleging that there was a secret memo emanating from the Office to the presidency,” the statement said. General public are hereby asked to disregard the media report as fabrications of anti-constitutional democratic stability in Nigeria.

 I never asked President Buhari to suspend the constitution- Malami Malami remains a true democrat who believes in rules of law and tenant of democracy and constitutional order. The office of the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice is a constitutionally recognised one with its role and responsibilities embedded in the constitution. 

 It is antithetical to common sense to think that the holder of such coveted office as the attorney-general of the federation and minister of Justice will stoop to what was printed by the media. The government does not operate in secrecy as it is not a clandestine operation. Hence, Malami discharges his constitutionally recognized mandates in compliance with principles of transparency, openness and accountability.”