GEJ's own Aondoakaa on steroids.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/politics/47886-adoke%E2%80%99s-gobbledygook.html

Adoke’s gobbledygook
By Bolade Omonijo 12 hours ago
Font size: Decrease font Enlarge font
Bello Adoke Bello Adoke

LIKE most of his recent predecessors, not much was known about Mr. Bello Adoke, the Attorney General of the Federation, before his appointment. Yes, he was a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, but so was Mr. Michael Aondoakaa at the point he was named the AGF. Aondoakaa’s reputation and the information that Adoke was recommended to President Goodluck Jonathan by Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu made many adopt the wait-and-see attitude.

Those of us who felt convinced that President Jonathan was unlikely to appoint the best material for the office have not been disappointed. In a way, there is something intrinsically wrong with the enunciation of the powers and functions of the AGF. The contradictions make occupants of the office fall to the vagaries of the Nigerian social system and the corrosion of values. The AGF is the official leader of the Bar. He is the Chief legal Adviser to the President and the government. He is, however, also as political appointee as a minister. So, he is, on the one hand, expected to act very professionally, but, on the other, he is handed a political prism through which he is told to screen matters before him.

All legal matters instituted by the federal government or any branch thereof must be referred to the office of the AGF and he is a necessary party. Whenever the federal government is sued, he is technically joined. He could also discontinue any pending matter by simply entering a nolle prosequie. In doing so, he does not have to adduce reasons and no judge could obstruct his performance of that function. He is a powerful official of state. However, he giving such enormous power to one functionary, there are fundamental assumptions. It is believed that no one would be picked for such an important office who has not demonstrated that he is schooled in the best traditions of the Bar. He is assumed to love the legal profession and respect the judiciary.

Herein lies the problem. [b]Nigerian officials lack scruples and believe that they owe their offices to the appointing authority. The Nigerian state and the people do not count. Thus, when there is a conflict between loyalty to the state and the President, an AGF, like any other official, would look and bow in the direction of the Chief Executive. In most recent times, the man who demonstrated this more than others was Aondoakaa.

He was on collision course with the EFCC and any other agency with which the Yar’Adua government was not pleased. He frustrated attempts to prosecute some corrupt officials and gave patently pernicious advice to the government he served. When the country was at the crossroads over the health of the President and the Republic, he chose to be part of the problem than the solution. When he was dropped and Adoke appointed, we said, “not again”. We thought his successor-in-title would have learnt from that experience when consequent upon vacating that exalted office, Aondoakaa was sanctioned by the Bar Association.

But, Adoke has opted to toe the same line. He has chosen to hide behind one finger and play the ostrich in performing the sacred duties assigned him by the constitution.[/b] On the raging storm following the suspension of Justice Ayo salami as President of the Court of Appeal, the country looked up to Adoke for correct interpretation of the law. He was expected to guide the President in ensure that justice reigns in the temple of justice. He was expected to fight injustice with the truth.

[b]Even to a layman like me, section 238 (5) of the constitution is unambiguous. It leaves no other authority, including the President, power to extend the appointment of the Acting PCA. The National Judicial Council is the only body that could have extended that appointment. And, the NJC that wrongly suspended Salami in the first instance has realised its mistake and ordered a recall. The President who had said he had no interest in interfering in the internal working of the judiciary suddenly became an activist and unilaterally extended the tenure of the Acting PCA whose mandatory three months had expired.

In assuming that posture on the advice of the AGF, the President said he was bowing to the rule that reinstating Salami would be subjudice. The President must have thought that we all had forgotten that at the time he shoved Salami aside, cases were pending forbidding the act. He assumed the power that he evidently lacks. This is a bad precedence. In my view, there is an unholy alliance between President Jonathan, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the AGF. Their motive stinks and is threatening the health of a sick country. A President who has always to stand up to be counted in matters of national interest has suddenly woken up to show guile. A man who has no clue to proffering answers to national posers is pretending to knowing what to do in this instance.

Our President and his men are only good at throwing the hard punch at men like General Buhari. Certainly, the cup is threatening to overflow.[/b]

Good Lord, deliver us.