The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Saturday defended his action of administering the oath of office to Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State as the chairman of the new caretaker committee of the All Progressives Congress on Thursday.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Umar Gwandu, the AGF said no law barred him from performing such task.
But lawyers have condemned Malami, describing his action as undue partisanship, abuse of office.
The statement read in part, “Entrenchment of democracy and democratic culture is not only a desirable responsibility, but a constitutional one regard being had to the constitutional provisions and the demand for sustenance of democracy in the country.
“The office of the Attorney General exercises dual functions inclusive of that of Minister of Justice which is a political and advisory function. Administration of justice is one of such functions.
“A federation is an embodiment of the governance inclusive of the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary with a possible expansion to accommodate private, corporate and associated entities. Within that context, it will not be out of place for an Attorney-General of the Federation to administer an oath on any one inclusive of leadership of any political party whether he belongs to it or not.”
