Canada : Premier Suspends Nigerian-born Attorney General over Traffic Fine

The Premier of Alberta, Canada, Mr. Jason Kenney, has ordered his Justice Minister and Solicitor General, Mr. Kaycee Madu, to relinquish his ministerial duties pending the outcome of an investigation on the controversial call Madu made to Edmonton's Police Chief, Mr. Dale McFee, about a traffic ticket.

Madu, who hailed from Nigeria, was alleged to have made the call to discuss a distracted driving ticket that was issued to him on March 10, 2021, for allegedly using a cellphone while driving. He was appointed attorney general in August 2020.

Kenny said he had conveyed to Madu his, “profound disappointment in his decision to contact the Edmonton police chief after receiving a ticket for a traffic violation,” and insisted that, “it’s essential the independent administration of justice is maintained.”

Kenney said: “I will appoint a respected independent investigator to review the relevant facts and to determine whether there was interference in the administration of justice in this case.

“In the interim period, I have asked Minister Madu to step back from his ministerial duties.

“(Energy) Minister Sonya Savage will act as Minister of Justice and Solicitor General during Minister Madu’s leave of absence.”

However, Madu has clarified via a statement that he never asked that the ticket be dropped.

He explained: “To be abundantly clear, at no point did I request that the ticket be rescinded. I would never do that.

“However, in that particular call, I regret raising the issue at all with the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) Chief, Mr. Dale McFee.”

Madu reportedly claimed to have paid the ticket “promptly” and in full, adding that he had, “the utmost respect for our men and women in uniform, and for the invaluable, often thankless role they perform.”