The need for a person with strong character and a sound background in law may have informed the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to settle for foremost lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN) as the next Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
LEADERSHIP’s investigation revealed that Buhari’s choice of Falana was not only based on his perceived forthrightness and penchant for fighting for the interests of the under-priviledged but also because the President sees the lawyer as someone who can drive his anti-corruption war.
Some newspapers had earlier reported that Buhari was considering Falana or Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN) as the next AGF.
But according to our source, the realisation by the president that without a forthright and strong courtroom lawyer like Falana, who understands all the tricks in the books as the AGF, his desire to prosecute and recover stolen funds from ex-government officials and their accomplices would be near impossible. The source added that the development may have prompted Buhari to give Falana the job.
Another reason which may have informed the decision is the urgent need to reform the Judiciary and the Ministry of Justice.
A presidency source, who confirmed this to LEADERSHIP, said one thing the president is not happy about is the huge judgment debt that federal government ministries, departments and agencies have incurred over the years due to the lackadaisical attitude of lawyers in the ministry of justice in defending cases filed against the government.
He said as at last count the judgment debts being owned by the federal government are over N1trillion and most of them are from undefended cases.
The source also alleged that government lawyers instigate questionable lawsuits that have accumulated into huge judgment debts by prodding litigants to file claims, so that they can present a frail defence on government’s behalf.
Speaking on why Falana would make the difference as the next AGF, the source said, “There are many instances where the justice ministry just refused to defend or appeal cases in court. It is true that Buhari is looking for competent judges to handle corruption cases that would soon be filed in court. But the questionable conduct of some judges in recent time has underscored the need for an holistic reforms at the instance of competent AGF.
“A case where judges issue restraining orders against the anti-graft agencies and also grant unnecessary adjournments is not good enough and this may scuttle Buhari’s resolve to fight corruption.”
