Confusion has been trailing the federal government meeting with Southwest Governors Thursday, over the raging national debate bordering on the establishment of Western Nigerian Security Network, otherwise known as Operation Amotekun.
This is as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami insisted on his earlier position, declaring Amotekun as an illegal entity, just few hours after agreeing with the Southwest Governors that necessary legal instruments be put in place by each of the six states to give legal backing to the initiative.
At the meeting chaired by Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, parties had agreed to address all issues concerning the regulation of the security structure on the establishment of the regional security outfit.
However, in a swift turn, Malami after the meeting again declared the Southwest Security outfit as an illegal outfit not known to the constitution of Nigeria, noting that it can never be allowed to stand.
The Attorney General of the Federation, made the fresh declaration in Abuja in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Umar Gwandu.
Malami maintained that no amount of sentiments would make the Federal Government to abandon the path of rule of law in the administration of Nigeria, saying the constitution “does not accommodate the formation of regional security architecture.”
Malami said: “No amount of effort to hide the truth will work. People could be carried away by sentimental or emotional inclinations, but truth remains apparently palpable. The bottom line is that the current Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not accommodate formation of regional security architecture.
“This is a fact which is undisputable and undeniable. Mr. Falana was prevaricating and circumlocuting using evasive techniques when he was asked by the media to justify the presence of lacuna within the law which could establish or protect the concept of regionalism in any operation in the country.
“This arrangement called Amotekun is not backed by any law neither at the State nor at the Federal Government level. Amotekun, therefore, remains unconstitutional and illegal as already indicated.
“The Federal Government appreciates that legally-minded Nigerians have started to eschew emotions by offering legal comments on the matter as against being carried away by other inclinations.
“The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is committed to the rule of law and a constitutional democratic Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Malami said.
