‘Only court can decide on legality of Amotekun’

A retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ambrose Aisabor, yesterday, asked the South West governors to approach the Supreme Court on the matter.

In an interview with Daily Trust, the security expert expressed misgivings over the proliferation of security outfits in the country.

He said, “It is only the Supreme Court that can interpret the constitution. It is the duty of the court to say whether the establishment of Amotekun has violated the relevant sections of the 1999 constitution vis-a-viz the law that says that the purpose of government is the protection of lives and properties.”

Tawo Eja Tawo (SAN) said the issue of whether the Attorney General has the powers to proscribe the operation of the security outfit does not arise when the proper thing to do is to go to court.

He said when the issue of the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) was made; the AGF went to court to obtain an order because he knows he cannot do it on his own.

“You cannot sit down and declare that Amotekun is illegal. He has to go to court and obtain an order declaring so,” he said.

On his part, Ahmed Raji (SAN), said, “The federal government merely sought refuge under the Exclusive Legislative list which vests defence in the federal government.”

“Going by the interpretation urged by the federal government, nobody is even allowed to hire a common guardsman to protect his property or his life. And neither can any community or compound employ private guards for their defence,” he said.

In his reaction, Magaji Mahmud SAN described the issue as “political.”