Dare Babalola
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi SAN, has denied allegations of political undertones in the recent withdrawal of charges against some high-profile Nigerians.
Fagbemi specifically mentioned the cases of Dr. Oba Otudeko, Chairman of the Honeywell Group, and Ahmed Kuru, former Managing Director of the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON).
The AGF spoke while answering questions from newsmen on the sidelines of the 2025 Ministry of Justice Top Management Retreat taking place at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, with the theme “Repositioning for Digital Transformation”.
According to Fagbemi, decisions on criminal law are based on merit and not influenced by sentiments, emotions, or political considerations. He explained that in the case of Kuru, the charges were dropped because there was no evidence to try him, and the investment in question was in the name of AMCON, with both principal and interest recovered by the EFCC.
Regarding Otudeko, Fagbemi stated that the complainant, First Bank, had withdrawn their complaint after recovering their losses, and it would be a waste of government resources to continue the prosecution.
The AGF also addressed the withdrawal of charges against Dr. Nneka Onyeali Ikpe, Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, saying that the allegations related to events before she became MD, and there was no probable cause or personal culpability.
Fagbemi dismissed insinuations that he was under pressure from the Presidency to drop charges for friends of the current administration, saying that the administration of President Bola Tinubu would not weaponize prosecution. He emphasized that cases are handled on their own merit and in line with the rule of law.
The AGF said, “What has the president got to do with this one? To drop charges against friends of God? It’s a criminal case. The Attorney General has been put in place, and we are doing what we feel and believe should be the appropriate step.
“Let me use this opportunity to remind us all that the question of prosecution, when you talk of rule of law, does not admit of weaponising prosecution.
“You do or treat each case on its own merit. And you do not get the courts involved in, or turn the courts into what I would call, theatres of spectacle.
“You take each case on its own merit. If a case is not made out, it is just not made out. There are no two ways about it. You don’t have to dissipate government energy resources and waste the time of the court.”
