Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami has denied issuing a secret memo urging President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the country’s constitution and declare martial law.
The Minister also said it is unbelievable that such a memo can originate from his office as he remains a firm believer in the tenets of democracy and constitutional order.
Malami made the submission in a statement on Wednesday night by his media aide Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu in which he reacted to allegations of plotting to declare a state of emergency in the country.
It will be recalled that it was reported that Malami, had allegedly advised the President to suspend the fundamental rights of all Nigerians as guaranteed under Chapter IV of the Constitution.
In the eight-page secret memo dated May 4, 2021, Mr Malami was said to have told Mr Buhari that insecurity across Nigeria has reached a level that could no longer be checked by existing democratic techniques, saying only a state of emergency promulgated by the president can help return the country to tranquillity.
But reacting to the allegation, Malami denied ever issuing such a memo and described himself as a supporter of constitutional democracy.
