A bill to separate the
office of the Attorney General of the Federation and the Ministry of Justice
have been passed.
The bill sponsored by a former attorney
general and commissioner of of justice in Borno state, Mohammed Tahir said too
much power was vested on the offices to be assigned to just one person serving
as both AGF and minister of justice.
The bill sponsored by
the chip whip of the House, Mohammed Tahir, said the separation will remove
political interference in the operations of the AGF.
The bill which has
already passed second reading will ensure that the president will be free to
politically consider appointing a minister of justice. However, the appointment
of the attorney general will be career-based.
Speaking at the plenary, Tahir, said too much
power was vested on the offices to be assigned to just one person. He also said
that the AGF’s powers are constitutionally judicial in nature and should not be
subjected to political interference at the detriment of the rights of the
people.
According to him, he
said the AGF has the right to declare a case non-prosecutable or even
discontinue a matter already in court.
In his contribution,
Ossai Nicholas said the bill was first passed by the 7th and 8th Assembly as it
is clear one office should not be saddled with so much power. Following the
contribution, the House further referred to the Committee on Legislative
Matters for legislative action on the bill.