April 8, 2021

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami has said he did not institute the case challenging the citizenship of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

He noted that the case which started in 2019, was filed by a civil society organisation – the Incorporated Trustees of Egalitarian Mission for Africa.

Malami in a statement issued on Wednesday by his spokesman, Dr. Umar Gwandu, said the matter was part of an election case that started in 2019.

“Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has not instituted legal action on the citizenship or otherwise of the former Vice-President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,” the statement partly read.

“Malami has never filled any case before any court in the country challenging the citizenship of the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

“The matter in contention was part of the 2019 pre-election matters instituted by a civil society organisation – the Incorporated Trustees of Egalitarian Mission for Africa in suit no: FHC/ABJ/CS/177/2019 in respect of which Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Peoples Democratic Party Independent National Electoral Commission and the Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation was made a co-defendant.”

The statement reads in full:

I didn’t file suit against Atiku’s Citizenship – Malami

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has not instituted legal action on the citizenship or otherwise of the former Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

This is contained in a statement issued by Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice which was made available to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday the 7th day of April 2021.

The Honorable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has never filled any case before any court in the country challenging the citizenship of the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

According to the statement, the matter in contention was part of the 2019 pre-election matters instituted by a Civil Society Organization – the Incorporated Trustees of Egalitarian Mission for Africa in suit no: FHC/ABJ/CS/177/2019 in respect of which Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation was made a co-defendant.

The issue had already been widely reported by the media since April 2019. It is unfortunate that stale news stories capable of causing confusion are repackaged and presented to the general public as current news.

*Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu*

(Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations

Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice)

7th April 2021