Organ Harvesting Saga: Why FG Can’t Help Ike Ekweremadu – AGF Malami
The hope of Senator Ike Ekweremadu on getting help from the Federal Government of Nigeria in solving the scandal trailing his alleged involvement in organ harvesting have been dashed.
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, speaking to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja, on the level of intervention by the Federal Government in the case, said the Nigerian government does not interfere with judicial matters.
In Malami’s words;
“It has never been the tradition of Nigerian government to interfere on anything judicial, local or international. And that stands the position of the government.
“On the issue of the intervention on Senator Ekweremadu. I have stated in the course of my presentation, that there has been in existence, a mutual legal assistance requests and collaboration between Nigeria and other countries across the world. So, to this end, I want to state that we will address requests if that are such on the part of Senator Ekweremadu.
“I can remember very well, there was a request, which was passed through my office but sealed and meant for delivery to the Crime Agency in the UK at the instance of the Distinguished Senator, which request I was not in a position to comment on because what relates to my office was a simple transmission.”
In view of the fact that the transmission of international documents is a function of a department central authority unit in the office of the attorney-general and on the request of senator Ekweremadu, an agency of government was asked to respond to certain inquiries, they did, and under seal, they presented their default which was transmitted to the UK accordingly.
“So, the implication of what I’m trying to state in essence is we have mutual legal assistance, understanding with the UK, and whichever of the agencies, either the senator as an accused or suspect or indeed the agencies in the UK, make any request for international support, we will respond accordingly.
“But as far as interest as to the federal government is concerned, it is not a matter over which we can develop any interest. Perhaps maybe, if there are interests, the interests should be rooted in law. For example, relating to the child in contention, you know, we have child rights, among others.
“In case of consular services, there is a need for senator Ekweremadu to be accorded one, in view of the fact that he is Nigerian, and the request is made. We’ll look at it on its merits.
“So, what I’m saying, in essence, it is not about meddlesome interloper, or perhaps maybe just coming into a scene relating to issues that border on crime.
“As you are likely aware, a number of Nigerians were before now convicted across the globe. And then a number of foreigners were equally convicted of recent in Nigeria . So, it is about issues that border on crime.
“If indeed, a criminal allegation is an issue, the jurisdiction determines what happens both in terms of request, in terms of support, and not for a Nigerian government to simply intervene because you are a high-profile personality.”
