ACTING PRESIDENT CANNOT BE DISOWNED, HE IS THE PRESIDENCY – MALAMI

ABUJA, Nigeria – Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami has refuted media reports that the Presidency has disowned Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo on a matter relating to Presidential nomination.

He said the matter as it is being reported is nothing but total falsehood.

“As the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, I would like to make it categorically clear that: The President – and in this case the Acting President – is the Presidency, and therefore cannot be disowned by the Presidency”, he said.
See full statement below.

RESPONSE TO DISTORTED REPORTING BY SOME MEDIA ORGANISATIONS ON PROCEEDINGS OF FEDERAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (FEC) PRESS BRIEFING

It has come to my notice that a number of media organisations have been distorting and misreporting the proceedings of yesterday’s (July 5, 2017) Federal Executive Council (FEC) press briefing, and suggesting that the Presidency ‘disowned’ the Acting President on a matter relating to a presidential nomination.

As the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, I would like to make it categorically clear that:
1. The President – and in this case the Acting President – is the Presidency, and therefore cannot be disowned by the Presidency.

2. All matters relating to Presidential Appointments and Nominations are strictly a matter for the Presidency to handle. They are not for the Federal Executive Council, and are therefore not discussed at FEC level. This was the point I made yesterday at the press briefing, and which was unfortunately distorted by the media.

I would like to appeal to the media to take seriously its responsibility to inform the public honestly and accurately, to refrain from distorting or sensationalizing the news, and to seek clarification when in doubt.
Abubakar Malami

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.