Malami’s Description Of Amotekun As Illegal, An Abuse Of Office To Suppress Rights Of Federating Units – SMBLF

BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has described the declaration of the South West security outfit (Amotekun) illegal by the Attorney General of the Federation and Ministers of Justice Mr. Abubakar Malami as an abuse of office to suppress the rights of federating units to secure themselves.

The SMBLF specifically said that the position of the Attorney General has further exposed the widely held suspicion that sections of the country are deliberately being rendered vulnerable for herdsmen and other criminals by the Federal Government.

The Forum in a statement signed by Mr Yinka Odumakin (South West), General CRU Iherika (South East), Senator Bassey Henshaw (South South), and Dr. Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt), advised the We ask the Governors of the South West to ignore the Minister of Justice and allow him to go to court to challenge their decision as he cannot constitute himself to a court over elected governors.

The SMBLF further said; “We are not under military rule. We insist that what the Governors have done is what individuals and neighborhoods can legally do to secure their lives and property.
“The right to preserve your life cannot be under any exclusive list other than the list of those who have no value for human lives.
“The ultra vire action of the AGF has further exposed Nigeria as a country under command and control and governed by a conquest mentality.
“We ask Malami to tell us what makes Amotekun illegal and Hisbah legal? He should further explain to us what makes Civilian JTF legal in the North East where there is war and in Zamfara and Katina and Kano where there is no war, while Amotekun is his only illegal take.”
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum declared that this is a defining moment to decide if Nigerians are under segregation and different laws in the country.

The SMBLF statement states; “Our attention has been drawn to the illegal diktat by the Attorney – General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN) declaring Amotekun, the South West security (not military or Police) outfit illegal.
“We consider his action as an abuse of office to suppress the rights of federating units to secure themselves and in furtherance of the widely – held suspicion that sections of the country are deliberately being rendered vulnerable for herdsmen and other criminals by the Federal Government.”