The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN has said that President Bola Tinubu has no preferred candidate in the election of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
Fagbemi stated this in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday while reacting to the news making the rounds in social media to the effect that the President has endorsed Afam Osigwe, SAN as his preferred candidate in the ongoing NBA election.
The statement reads, “To buttress these lies, I was made a point of reference for confirmation. I wish to state categorically, that at no time did Mr President give any such instruction.
“I completely dissociate myself from such a statement because nothing of such happened.
“I am also in a position to confirm, and I do so, that the President neither had discussion with the author nor did he give any such divisive instruction. I also had no such discussion with anyone”, the AGF added.
He said the news is a lie from the pit of hell being peddled about by mischief makers seeking cheap popularity to ride on the acceptance of Mr President among lawyers.
Fagbemi said the President is a Democrat who believes in playing by the rules and has not and will not endorse anyone as a preferred candidate in the ongoing NBA election.
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“As a democrat and President of the country, he will abide by the outcome of a free and fair election. He is also ready to work with any candidate that emerges.
“I seize this opportunity to call on those who are bent on causing disaffection among NBA members on the one hand and between our respected President and the respected NBA on the other hand, to desist from such an unprofitable venture”, he said.
The President, he added, wished the NBA a hitch-free election and looks forward to working with whoever emerges.
