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The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has said that being a lawyer, Notary Public and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, there is no law that prohibits him from administering Oath.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations Office, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, made available to TheNigeriaLawyer (TNL) Malami said: “working towards 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.”
He said his office is both political and advisory and there is nothing wrong if he administers Oath on anyone “the office of the Attorney General exercise 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 the leadership of any political party whether he belongs to it or not.”
He added that “Within the context of the other consideration, a lawyer, a judge, and indeed a private legal practitioner and a commissioner for oath are recognized statutorily as people vested with the power to administer an oath. Attorney General of the federation that has fallen within that circle is never an exception.”
Malam further posed a question suggesting that no law hinders him from administering an Oath.
“The fundamental question that begs for an answer remains whether there exists any legal impediment on Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice in relation to administration of oath being a lawyer, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a legal practitioner.”
