The Nigerian government and governors of states in the south-west have reached the agreement to draw up a legal framework for the Western Security Network code-named: Amotekun.
Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo state, disclosed this to state house correspondents at the end of a meeting Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had with the six governors from the region on Thursday.
Asked if the governors failed to draw up the legal framework for the outfit before the launch on January 9, Akeredolu said the inspector-general of police and other “relevant security agencies” were consulted earlier.
Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, who had described the outfit as illegal, was part of the meeting.
Issuing a statement at the end of the meeting Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said "fruitful and unanimous resolutions" were made on the way forward in a meeting today with South West Governors, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police over the controversy surrounding the Amotekun Initiative.
The meeting was at the instance of the Governors who had asked to see President Muhammadu Buhari
"It was agreed that the structure of Amotekun should also align with the Community Policing strategy of the Federal Government, according to Professor Yemi Osinbajo
Earlier on, in a statement on Thursday, the attorney-general had said his position on the scheme has not changed.
“By asking for the state governments of the Southwestern Nigeria to proceed to enact the necessary laws, in justifying the legality of the establishment and operation of Amotekon, Mr. Femi Falana is reaffirming and reiterating the Federal Government’s stance that the establishment of the operation currently is illegal,” the AGF said in a statement which Umar Gandu, his spokesman, issued on his behalf.
“No amount of effort to hide the truth will work. People could be carried away by sentimental or emotional inclinations, but truth remains apparently palpable.
“The bottom line is that the current Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not accommodate formation of regional security architecture. This is a fact which is undisputable and undeniable.
“Mr. Falana was prevaricating and circumlocuting using evasive techniques when he was asked by the media to justify the presence of lacuna within the law which could establish or protect the concept of regionalism in any operation in the country. He was unable to supply answer to the question and failed to cite relevant laws that back the argument.”
Malami said the outfit is not backed by any law, whether federal or state, so it cannot be regarded as a legal organisation.
Office of the Vice President
The Press Statement reads as follows:
FG, SOUTHWEST GOVERNORS AGREE ON AMOTEKUN
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, met today with South West Governors, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police .
The meeting was at the instance of the Governors who had asked to see President Muhammadu Buhari over the controversy surrounding the Amotekun Initiative. However due to the President’s foreign engagement, he asked the Vice President to host the meeting.
The meeting was very fruitful and unanimous resolutions were made on the way forward.
Having regard to the need for all hands to be on deck in addressing the security concerns across the country, it was agreed that the structure of Amotekun should also align with the Community Policing strategy of the Federal Government.
It was also agreed that necessary legal instruments will be put in place by each of the States to give legal backing to the initiative and address all issues concerning the regulation of the security structure.
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