By SINL Reporter
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has said that there was no any legal impediment on him in relation to administration of oath being a lawyer, a Senior Advocateof Nigeria, notary public and a legal practitioner.
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 on Saturday.
Malami said working towards entrenchment of democracy and democraticculture is not only a desirable responsibility, but a constitutionalone regard being had to the constitutional provisions and the demandfor sustenance of democracy in the country.
He explained that 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 theFederation to administer an oath on any one inclusive of leadership of any political party whether he belongs to it or not.
Within the context of the other consideration, a lawyer, a judge andindeed a private legal practitioner and a commissioner for oath arerecognized statutorily as people vested with the power to administeran oath. Attorney General of the federation that has fallen within that circle is never be an exception.
The fundamental question that begs for an answer remains whether thereexist any legal impediment on Attorney-General of the Federation andMinister of Justice in relation to administration of oath being a lawyer, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a legal practitioner.
Malami, therefore, renewed commitment in discharging constitutional responsibilities of upholding the democratic culture and compliance tothe rule of law.
