The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, has refuted the reports in some section of the media that the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration is planning to stop the use of the permanent voter cards and the electronic card readers for the forthcoming elections.
The minister said in a statement released on Wednesday that although, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are co-defendants in suit number FHC/ABJ/06/15 instituted by the Society For Advancement and Protection of Public Rights seeking the interpretation of sections 77 (2) and 112 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as well as section 9(5) of the Electoral Act, he, as the ministry head had not authorised any counter affidavit to the effect.
“I wish to categorically state that I was not aware of the contents of the counter affidavit deposed to by Lawrence Illop and did not authorise it,” Adoke said.
“While, the deponent, (Lawrence Illop) and Messrs Taiwo Abidogun and N.S. Odusola who signed the written address in support of the counter affidavit are staff of the Federal Ministry of Justice, I wish to state that the officers did not avail me the opportunity of perusing or vetting the affidavit and written address before they were filed.”
He explained that the practice in the federal ministry of justice is for the Attorney General to be availed copies of all Court Processes prepared in reply to suits against the office and his opinion first had and obtained especially in sensitive suits such as the one in question before such processes are filed. But that the practice was not adhered to in this instance for reasons best known to the officers.
“As Head of the Ministry, I must take responsibility for their conduct,” Adoke added.
“However, I have directed the processes to be withdrawn forthwith to enable an appropriate response to be filed to the originating summons.”
He said queries have been issued to the concerned officers as to why they breached the process.
