The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has said there was no pressure on the federal government that compelled it to release Omoyele Sowore and Sambo Dasuki.
The minister, who stated this while speaking on the BBC Hausa and the Hausa Service of the Voice of America (VOA), said the government released the duo on compassionate grounds.
He said, “The only reasons for the release of Omoyele Sowore and Sambo Dasuki revolved around our commitment to the rule of law, obedience to court orders and compassionate grounds.
“It is important to understand the fact that as far as the law is concerned and in relation to the Nigerian justice system, one has multiple options after a court has ruled on a matter.
“These options include the right to appeal the said ruling, the right to ask the same court that issued an order to vary or review the terms of the order as well as the right to request for stay of execution of the order pending the hearing and determination of an appeal in that matter.”
Malami said it was true that his office had received formal communication from any American senator on the matter and that the discussion during the visit of the American ambassador to Nigeria at the submission of letter of credence was not in any way connected to the accused persons.
“Even if we received any communication from them, it will never be the basis on the part of the federal government to obey or disobey court orders emanating from Nigeria.”
The minister said each of the cases of Dasuki and Sowore were treated on their individual merit and not in relation to one another or any other factors.
“The critical question that you may ask should be whether there is a strong suspicion of committing an offence or not. If there is a strong suspicion of committing an offence which deserved, as a matter of necessity, to be investigated through legal steps then there was no room for thinking of witch hunting an individual, scoring acrimonies or personal vendetta against anyone.”
He also said, “The time has now come for Sambo Dasuki and Omoyele Sowore to also enjoy bail based on the merit of their individual cases. They were charged based on their individual cases, taken to court, granted bail and now have been released. All the individuals involved were treated fairly and justly; they were taken to court, enjoyed the court’s favourable discretion and they were all released.”
