Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has made further clarifications on his alleged exoneration the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari.
While fielding questions from State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he explained that he only requested for expanded investigation and not exoneration.
He said it was mischievous to insinuate that he was trying to exonerate Kyari as he only requested an enhancement of investigations.
He added that Kyari is facing trial before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja on charges of illegal drug business.
“Starting with the issue of Abba Kyari as raised, may be, by way of an insight into the workings of the Office of the Attorney-General and Federal Ministry of Justice, you need to understand that it is not, and has never been the functions and duties of the Office of the Attorney-General to conduct investigations
“So, generally speaking, when issues are raised that have some criminal undertones; the responsibility of the Office of the Attorney-General is to refer to the relevant agencies of government that are saddled with the responsibility of investigation, including perhaps, the Police, ICPC, EFCC, among others.
“So, with that in mind, during the course of investigation, there is naturally a need for correspondents and exchange of mutual correspondents between the offices.
“Fundamentally, after the investigation, when a report is presented to the Office of the Attorney-General, the Attorney-General will review the same to see whether there is need for enhancement of investigation along the line as it relates to certain key elements of the offence,’ he said.’
He said that it was the aforementioned that one needed to understand what actually transpired in the case of Kyari.
Malami said that allegations were made, investigations were conducted, and then requests for further enhancement of investigation were indeed made by the Office of the Attorney-General.
“For the purpose of covering the field in arriving at an informed decision one way or the other.
“So, while this process of correspondence between the Office of the Attorney-General and indeed, the Police is ongoing, it is indeed, a work-in-progress and never a conclusive position.
“So, that is what I can tell you clearly; there was indeed a request for investigation; an interim investigation report was presented to the Office of the Attorney-General; and the Attorney-General requested for further enhancement into the investigation, and highlighted some areas in respect of which enhancement of investigation is required.
“So, it is indeed premature or perhaps, mischievous for any conclusion to have been driven in the direction of exonerating or otherwise of the reliability or responsibility relating thereto.’’