Adoke: President Jonathan Has Not Ordered Any Probe Against Me

SAN FRANCISCO, May 10, (THEWILL) – Contrary to the report in a section of the media that a probe had been ordered into the activities of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister for Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, on Friday declared that President Goodluck Jonathan had not ordered any investigation against him.

A statement issued by Adoke’s lawyer, Ahmed Raji, SAN,quoted the minister as saying that he was actually the person who asked the Inspector General of the Police to do the investigation following an allegation of corruption levelled against him by a former member of House of Representatives, Dino Melaye, who is the President of Anti Corruption Network (ACN).

Melaye had accused Adoke of abusing the power vested in the office of Attorney General in his petition to the presidency.

But the statement by Adoke’s lawyer said: "Following the tendentious allegations made by one Mr. Dino Melaye against the person of our client, we wrote a letter dated 23rd April 2013 to the Inspector General of Police, wherein we requested the I.G to cause an investigation to be carried out in respect of all the allegations made by the said Mr. Dino Melaye.

"We therefore dispute the headline in the publication contained in the Sahara Reporters of today 10th May 2013 to the effect that : President Jonathan Initiates probe of AGF Mohammed Adoke."

A copy of the letter to the Inspector of General Police was also attached to the statement.

Adoke’s lawyer said the current exercise being embarked upon by the police was at the instance of his client and not the President as being insinuated.

He said that it was not the first time, Adoke would be submitting himself to a public enquiry because he has nothing to hide.

The statement reads in part: "On a past occasion when our client submitted himself, his accusers came apologising as they admitted that they were misled into publishing what was and is still patently false against him.

"While our client concedes the right of every individual to freedom of speech, it is our contention that the freedom goes with a duty. It is not a licence for anyone to make any unsubstantiated allegation against any individual.

"And this is why our client has deemed it fit to invite the police authority to look into the allegations and make appropriate findings."