Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of federation, says
kidnappers are now qualified to be treated as terrorists.
Last Thursday, a federal high court in Abuja declared the
activities of two bandit groups as acts of terrorism.
The ruling was pronounced following an ex-parte motion filed
by Mohammed Abubakar, the director of public prosecution (DPP) at the ministry
of justice.
Speaking on Wednesday during a Channels Television
programme, Malami said those who kidnap using force and arms will be treated
within the ambit of the terrorism act.
“If you kidnap using
force, using arms, you are qualified as a terrorist within the dictates and the
determination of the judicial decision handed down by the court,” he said.
He said such acts are “within the purview and ambit of the
terrorism act” and the perpetrators “will be accordingly and decisively dealt
with”.
On when the court order will be gazetted, he said: “It is in
the process of being gazetted but the order has been procured and obtained, it
is being gazetted and the publication will follow suit thereafter.
“The gazette is a
formal process and it doesn’t take away the legality and effectiveness of an
order or perhaps a decision of the court.
“The decision of the court is effective, inherently in its
own right, without necessarily awaiting the gazetting process.”
‘I’M NOT AWARE EFCC
PLACED OBIANO ON WATCHLIST’
Malami also said he is not aware of the placement of Willie
Obiano, governor of Anambra, on the watchlist of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The minister of justice denied that he was part of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) campaign council of the Anambra governorship
election.
“I’m in all sincerity not aware and I don’t have to be aware
because the EFCC is established by law,” he said.
“Their responsibilities are demarcated by law and what they
do are demarcated by law, not the attorney-general or the office of the
attorney-general.”
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