The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has said he cannot advise the Federal government on monetary policies as that is going beyond his purview as Minister of Justice.
Malami said this while responding to questions on when the Federal government will execute judgment of the Supreme Court that the old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes remain as legal tender until December 31, 2023.
When contacted by The Nation, his media aide, Dr. Umar Gwandu, urged the media to educate the public that his roles did not include advising the Federal government on monetary policy issues.
“It is important that the educational role of the mass media be exercised in this direction. The media is an important tool for education and enlightenment. Let us use the media to inform the general public that the functions of the office of Attorney General do not include monetary policy regulation.”
When his attention was drawn to a recent example where the AGF was categorical on the FG’s disposition to the February 8th interim injunction issued by the Supreme Court, Gwandu declined comment. Malami had, during an appearance on a private television station shortly after the Supreme Court issued the interim injunction, said the order was binding on the FG.
“I think what we are talking about is not whether the ruling is binding or not binding; we are talking about what we intend to do. There is no doubt about the fact that the ruling of the Supreme Court, regardless of the prevailing circumstances, is binding and then within the context of the rule of law. You can equally take steps that are available to you within the context of the spirit and circumstances of the rule of law. And what we are doing in essence is in compliance with the rule of law both in terms of obedience to the ruling and in terms of challenging the ruling by way of putting across our own side of the story, putting across our case, challenging jurisdiction.
So the issue of obedience to the ruling of the Supreme Court is out of it. We are wholeheartedly in agreement that naturally, we are bound by it and will comply accordingly. But within the context of compliance, we shall challenge the ruling by way of filing an application seeking for it to be set aside. It is all about the rule of law.”
