At least, 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria and 87 lawyers have indicated interest to offer free legal service, otherwise known as pro bono, to the Executive Secretary, Anti-Corruption Network, ACN, Dino Melaye, in a suit instituted against the body by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke,SAN.
A file had been opened for lawyers, who are willing to be part of the defence team.
Already, an 11-man legal team has been constituted by the AGF in the N10.2bn libel suit instituted against Melaye at an Abuja High Court.
ACN had in a petition to President Goodluck Jonathan on April 11, accused Adoke of graft and “outrageous use of powers against public interest.”
But the AGF had insisted that rather than the Presidency, it was he that ordered the investigation without any influence.
A letter from the Office of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, signed by Ali Amodu, a Commissioner of Police in charge of X Squad, to the Executive Secretary of ACN, had informed the group that it was investigating the allegations of corruption, abuse of office and incompetence leveled against the AGF.
Meanwhile, Melaye in a chat with newsmen insists that neither himself nor his group had been served a court notice.
“It shows that those in the legal profession have recognised the abuse of office and flagrant disregard for the rule of law by the AGF. Many of the lawyers complained of the conduct of the AGF and have vowed to furnish this office with additional information and obvious cases of abuse of office by Adoke.
“The bastardisation, monetisation and commercialisation of the legal profession must stop. Conflict of interest must become history. Public interest must be placed above selfish or personal interest in the discharge of official responsibilities in the office of the AGF,” he said.
A Senior Advocate, who spoke with journalists on condition of anonymity said that “The decision (Pro Bono) was premised on the need to reform the legal profession in Nigeria.”
He said the legal practitioners were ready to argue the case whenever hearing begins.
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