Group alleges AG, Fagbemi working to ‘score vendetta’ against Reps member for defeating Minister, Onyejeocha in election, calls for caution

The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN has been accused of working to score vendetta against a House of Representatives member because, the Minister of State for Productivity, Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiru Nyejeocha lost election in the State.

The group operating under the aegis of Citizens of Isuikwuato/Umunneochi in a statement on Wednesday made available to journalists said, the move by the two Ministers in President Tinubu’s cabinet amount to abuse of office.

They alleged that, the Attorney-General was using his office to intimidate, harass and settle scores against perceived political opponents and as an instrument of self-serving vendetta, “it portends grave danger to members of the general public and the country’s democracy at large.”

The group expressed worry that as sitting member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State, Onyejeocha’s repetitive petition and lawsuits against Ogah through the office of the AG in which the Chief Law Officer of the Federation was giving attention constitutes gross abuse of public office.

The statement read: “It has come to our knowledge that the office of the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation & Minister for Justice recently filed a criminal Charge against Hon. Amobi Ogah in the FCT High Court on 31/7/2024 for alleged publication of injurious falsehood and defamation of the character of Nkeiru Onyejeocha the Minister of State for Labour & Productivity.

The charge with charge No: CR/650/2024: Federal Republic of Nigeria Vs Amobi Godwin Ogah is not unconnected with Nkeiru Onyejeocha’s running battle to undermine Hon. Amobi Ogah since he emerged as the member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, at the last 2023 general elections.

“It is not uncommon for the office of the Attorney General of the Federation to prosecute any person who is suspected to have committed a criminal offence, however, the circumstances and facts leading to the filing of Charge No. CR/650/2024 leaves much to be desired from the conduct of the present occupant of that office.

“Prior to her loss at the 2023 elections and subsequent appointment as Minister of State for Labour & Productivity in 2023, Hon Nkeiru Onyejeocha had occupied the seat of member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency for an unbroken period of Sixteen (16) years. As customary with most Nigerian politicians, she challenged her electoral misfortune at the Election Petition Tribunal. Expectedly, she engaged her long standing Counsel, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to file the Petition and represent her at the Tribunal.

“Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, filed the Petition which he signed personally and also made appearances at the Tribunal sittings in Abuja and Umuahia. The Election Tribunal decided the Petition in her favour, but this victory was short-lived, as the Court of Appeal set aside the decision of the Tribunal and affirmed the declaration and return of Hon. Amobi Ogah by INEC, as the winner of the election.

“Since her defeat both at the polls and in Court, Nkeiru Onyejeocha has refused to let the sleeping dogs lie and has continually dragged Hon. Amobi Ogah from one Court or Police Station to another over an allegation that her character was defamed by Hon. Amobi Ogah in a Petition which he addressed to the President of the Court of Appeal during the pendency of the Election Tribunal hearing.

“First, she filed Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/510/2023: Hon. Nkeiru Chidubem Onyejeocha V. Hon. Chief Amobi Ogah, a civil case at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, claiming Ten Billion Naira as damages for defamation of her character. This Suit is still pending at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

“Despite the pendency of Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/510/2023, Nkeiru Onyejeocha and her Counsel at the Election Tribunal – Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, have now resorted to utilizing the office of the Attorney General of the Federation which he superintends for personal vendetta, by filing Charge No. CR/650/2024 against Hon. Amobi Ogah in the same High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, on the same allegations contained by repeating the same allegations in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/510/2023 filed by Nkeiru Onyejeocha.

“The use of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and other public offices to settle scores against perceived opponents and as an instrument of self – serving vendetta, portends grave danger to members of the general public and indeed our democracy.

“We therefore use this medium to call on the relevant authorities to cause an investigation into the activities of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation in respect of this matter, in order to forestall further loss of public confidence in that high office.”