CSOs accuse Malami of stalling Melaye’s corruption trial

The Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) has accused Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), of stalling the corruption trial of Dino Melaye, former senator from Kogi state.

CSNAC made the allegation via a statement on Sunday while reacting to Malami’s request to be given more time to provide Melaye’s case file.

Malami did not immediately respond to TheCable’s enquiry for comment.

The CSOs had written to the minister, requesting information on the prosecution of Melaye who was accused of operating foreign accounts contrary to the regulations of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

Olanrewaju Suraju, CSNAC chairman, said Melaye’s case file was transferred from the CCB upon the request of the AGF through a letter dated January 5, 2018.

But responding via a letter, the AGF, through Nafisat Ibrahim, state counsel, was said to have requested “an extension of time to study the request for the release of the case file”.

The CSOs described the minister’s request as “confusing” and “similar to responses in the past”.

“Melaye’s trial remains one of the striking cases of corruption that raises suspicions of state complicity indicating an attempt to cover up a high profile case,” Suraju said.

“It is a case that will be pursued to its logical end until the files are released and Senator Malaye brought to book.

“The minister, who recently accused the suspended Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, of delaying investigation in a complex matter of P&ID In less than one year of investigation will have no Justification for holding a file involving a concluded investigation for almost 3 years.”