The Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has justified the arrest and detention of judges by operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS.
The AGF had on Monday, failed to attend the valedictory court session of retired Supreme judge, Suleiman Galadima.
He however spoke Tuesday after the inauguration of an Expert Review Committee on implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, UNCAC, saying “no one is or should be above the law”.
Malami said: “Was there an allegation of crime? Was there relevant provision of criminal procedure responsible for investigation? “Is there an allegation of corruption? If there is, no body, no matter how highly placed will be spared.
“The right to investigate has not been taken away from the constitution. The allegation borders on criminality and no one is or should be above the law.
“Neither the judiciary or the executive will be exempted from investigation”, the AGF stated.
Meanwhile, in a keynote address at the inauguration of the Committee, Malami stated that the federal government would put adequate measures in place to ensure that recovered loots are profitably managed.
He said: “No doubt, the extant review focusing on Chapter II and V of UNCAC relating to preventive measures against corruption in public and private sectors and assets recovery, is both necessary and timely at this time of the annals of country when endemic can systemic corruption has created a great disconnect between our nation’s wealth and the quality of life of ordinary citizens.
“As we are all aware, Nigeria is a state-party to UNCAC which is the first global legally binding international anti-corruption instrument.
“Your contributions will no doubt translate into massive political goodwill and will snowball into successes in pace setting as it relates to the fight against corruption. “Let me emphasise that the guiding principles of the review is non-adversarial, non-punitive and not aimed at ranking state parties”.
Members of the Committee were drawn from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Bureau of Public Procurement, Code of Conduct Bureau, Corporate Affairs Commission, Federal Ministry of Finance, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, National Human Rights Commission, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, among other agencies.