The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, on Wedneaday, said no leader in the world would have tolerated the “excesses” of #EndSARS protesters the way President Muhammadu Buhari did in October 2020.
According to Malami, that action of the president was proof of his leniency.
He stated this while addressing a number of issues ranging from government’s reaction to the #EndSARS protests, through the appointment of new service chiefs to the extension of the appointment of the Inspector-General of Police, among others.
“As far as Human Rights records of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is concerned, the fact speaks for itself, the commendation by the international body which is the Committee for the Protection of Journalists, local compliance with the recommendations of the National Human Rights Commission, which has been unprecedented, tolerance and indeed, accommodation for the excesses of the #EndSARS protesters were all facts that go to establish a point that the government of President Buhari has shown greater accommodation of the human rights violation and the tolerance to the human rights record as far as the Nigerian State is concerned,” the AGF said on a monitored Channels Television programme.
According to him, “no nation in the world could have tolerated the idea of destruction to its security institutions.
“I think over 20 police stations or more — I’m not certain about the number, they can be more — were destroyed during #EndSARS protests and government has a responsibility to ensure the protection of lives and freedom of movement.
“We are confronted with a situation whereby #EndSARS protesters blocked roads, caused mayhem, caused deaths, caused destruction, and they were significantly tolerated to a certain extent.”
He also reacted to the court order on the Central Bank of Nigeria to unfreeze bank accounts of #EndSARS promoters.
He said that the law provided the Federal Government with other options which included the right to “challenge or exercise further considerations on the matter if the need arises.”
A Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier on Wednesday ordered the CBN to unfreeze the bank accounts of 20 #EndSARS promoters.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed gave the ruling following the agreement reached by parties in the suit to amicably resolve the matter.
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
