By Tobias Lengnan Dapam
The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice has debunked reports in sections of the media that it was indicted by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), over the Apo-8 killings.
The Rights Commission had on Monday issued its report after investigating the Apo killing, where some squatters were killed by security operatives and indicted the Nigerian Army and the SSS.
Responding to the reports of its indictment, the AGF’s office, in a statement issued yesterday by its Chief Press Secretary, Ambrose Momah, said “the attention of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been drawn to reports in the print and electronic media (especially Channels TV) to the effect that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had indicted the Army, the SSS and the Attorney General of the Federation purportedly reporting the findings of the NHRC in respect of the above subject matter.
“The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation wishes to inform the general public to disregard the media reports especially as they relate to the Attorney General of the Federation because the office of the Attorney General of the Federation appeared as a Judge Advocate for the proceedings of the NHRC and at no time was any general or specific allegations made against the person or Office of the Attorney General of the Federation to warrant a finding by the Commission or indictment as reported in the media”.
The statement further adviced the general public to carefully read the Decisions and Orders of the Commission dated 7th April 2014 in respect of complaint No. C/2013/7908/HQ, which confirmed that no such indictment was made against the Office.
It said “The AGF and Minister of Justice is to ensure that evidence of payment is lodged with the Registry of the National Human Rights Commission within thirty days of the present decision.
“The above quoted words cannot by any stretch of imagination be construed as an indictment on the Attorney-General of the Federation as he is only expected by the NHRC to ensure that the awards made against the Government of the Federation are paid within the stipulated period”.
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