AGF gives state Attorneys-General authority to try federal offences

Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Thursday gave Attorneys-Generalof the 36 states of the federation fiat to prosecute federal offences.

The AGF declared this arising from a meeting he held with a body of states AGs in Abuja, explaining that the plan was to provide framework for all prosecutors and prosecuting agencies to achieve higher prosecution standards.

As revealed by a communiqué issued by the body at the end of the meeting, with the fiat, the 36 states of the federation now have the authority to prosecute cases involving kidnapping, human trafficking, terrorism, drugs-related offences, economic and financial crimes, cyber-crimes, copyright breaches and other crimes that were created by federal laws.

Part of the communiqué read, “The body commends the decision of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation to grant a general fiat to states Attorneys General to prosecute federal offences in their respective states on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

“The body further urged the AGF to publish the said fiat by way of Legal Notice duly gazetted.”

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The body during the meeting also approved the proposed National Policy on Prosecution, Code of Conduct and Guidelines for Prosecutors in the country.

According to Malami, the fiat would improve quick dispensation of criminal cases and ensure there is reduction in the number of issues of awaiting trial inmates in the prisons across the federation. He added that the adoption of the policy and Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, by states, would go a long way to support effective and efficient criminal justice administration.

While he said that the policy, if efficiently implemented would eliminate impediments to speedy dispensation of justice, protect the society from crime, and protect the rights and interest of defendants, victims and the Nigerian society, he however noted, that there is fear “a national and uniform adoption of the policy document would infringe on the autonomy of the states.”

He assured that such fear was unfounded.

Responding, the body of AGs promised to set aside party affiliation and work together with the FG in the fight against corruption in the country.

By Ebere Ndukwu …

 

 

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