By Akinwale Kasali
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has dismissed as wicked and mischievous, the viral story that he bought a N300 Million house for his son, who got married in Kano on Saturday, 11th July, 2020.
Malami, in a statement on his behalf by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, said he never purchased any house for his son in Abuja.
He said the wedding Fathia of the eldest son took place under strict observance of the protocols and guidelines of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, and he thanked friends, well-wishers and the general public for their prayers, goodwill for the wedding fatiha which took place Saturday, 11th July, 2020 in Kano.
He expressed appreciation for the understanding demonstrated due to COVID-19 pandamic the wedding fatiha was low-keyed.
Earlier the Minister had communicated, in writing, notifying friends and colleagues that due to the current situation of COVID-19, he only solicited frr their prayers and goodwill.
“It is important to note that the wedding fatiha took place in Kano on Saturday 11th July, 2020 in the morning, and any other activity before or after the wedding fatiha is not connected with the marriage and we, therefore, dissociate ourselves from it in its entirety.
“The attention of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has been drawn to a mischievous, deceitful and perfidious publication by the notorious
factory of fake news in Nigeria, the medium (namewitheld by us), with an intent to spread lies.
“It is regrettable that the information communication technology tools have been hijacked by disgruntled elements in spreading fake news and blatant lies.
“The report by the media is a clear violation of ethical journalism practices on verification of facts and authentication of claims. It evinces lack of professionalism, and exposes rash and reckless presentation of figment of imaginations shrouded with bigotry and bundled with sentiments of unscrupulous questions.
“For instance, who is the vendor of the purported house bought for the son of the Minister in Abuja at N300m? Where is the so-called mansion located in Abuja? Where are the title documents?
While refuting the claim, Malami said “God knows that I did not purchase any house for him in Abuja. Not even a rented house was secured for my son in Abuja, because he has no plan to live in Abuja”.
“The allegation of hiring private jets for the marriage was preposterous.
It is common knowledge that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice had neither a father nor mother anywhere in Nigeria to be conveyed to Kano for the wedding. Who, then is the Attorney-General using the chartered flight to convey? Which jets were chartered? Who paid for the charter? Through which means was the money paid?
“It is one of such libelous publications of which the medium (again, namewithheld by us), is commonly known for targeting at select few for unsubstantiated fabricated allegations while overlooking more serious reasonable allegations visibly open against its favoured sectional kingsmen”, the statement said.
