Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and minister of justice has explained that Muhammadu Buhari-led government was right for keeping the convener of #RevolutionNow, Omoyele Sowore, despite court orders.
AGF said the orders of the court were subject to applications for variation and appeals at the Court of Appeal, explaining that the enforcement of the orders could be delayed in such circumstances.
Malami made this known at a programme titled ‘Good Morning Nigeria’ aired by a national television, (NTA), saying the government did not default the court orders.
He said: “Perhaps I need to clear the air on how the rule of law operates within the context of the Nigerian constitution. We have multiple and a plethora of judicial decisions that establishes a fact that when you are challenging a court order through a judicial process, the idea of disobedience to that court order does not arise.
“The misapprehension that set into the system and deliberately put in the public space is the fact that once there is a court order, you must unconditionally comply.
“You can only be adjudged being in disobedience of a court order when you don’t take advantage of the constitutional powers, rights accorded to you by appealing against the order and perhaps seeking for stay of execution of the order or perhaps you don’t take any steps seeking variation of the court order.
“So, in respect of those orders we are not comfortable with as a government, we go back to the court and have them challenged. Until that matter that your right of challenge, is determined up to the supreme court level, the idea of you being charged with disobedience of court order does not arise.”
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