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Attorneys-Generals of the six Southwest states when putting finishing touches to the required legal framework for the operation of Operation Amotekun, said they don’t need the permission of the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubajar Malami, to legalise the framework of the operation.
Speaking with news men at the end of the three hours meeting, held in Ibadan, the attorney general of Oyo state, Prof. Ayewole Ayewo, said the bill will be sent to the various states Houses of Assemblies after it has been seen by the separate State Executive Councils.
He said the operational details and structural procedures will be common across the six states to allow for avenues for operational collaborations.
He reiterated that the security Network is to complement the existing apparatus but would be using the local intelligence, expressing optimism that the bill will not take too long before being passed to laws by the individual states.
According to the details of the agreed framework, each of the Southwest states of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and Lagos will have its their legislation and security network operatives, which will bear the name Amotekun Corps.
Those in attendance were: Prof Oyewole Oyewo (Oyo), Mr Oluwafemi Akande (Osun), Mr Olawale Fapohunda (Ekiti), Mr Adekola Olawole (Ondo), Mr Akingbolahan Adeniran (Ogun) and Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (Lagos) who was represented by the Director of Civil Litigation, Mr S. A Quadri.
When asked if the new security outfit will be licenced to carry arms, ammunition and wear uniforms, Prof Oyewo said: “Yes, of course, the carrying of arms is legislated by law and the Amotekun outfit will comply with all the laws of the land.
“We have an operational manual that will also be passed as part of the legal framework for each of the states.
“We have been emphasising Section 14 of the Constitution imposes a duty, a primary duty, on the federal, state and local governments to secure lives and properties and that is exactly what the states here present are doing.”
Asked if the AGs will write to officially inform the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami on the new development, Oyewole noted: “We run a federal system, as long as laws are passed within the competence of our legislation, we don’t need the permission, authority or even the counsel of anybody other than the operators set under the constitution.
“As I have stated and I reiterate, the law is to establish a security network with Amotekun corps and that is what will be presented to the state houses of assembly and that will probably be passed into law.”
