The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has said that the anti-open grazing laws of Oyo State and other southern states infringed on the freedom of movement as enshrined in the nation’s constitution.
Speaking with newsmen on Wednesday after the meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Malami explained that his office had not taken any stance outside the scope of the constitution and will not do so.
Malami said, “On the issue of farmers-herders clashes, no position was taken by the Office of the Attorney General outside the scope of the constitutional provisions.
“The position of the Office of the Attorney-General is about freedom and liberty of movement among others. And what the Office of the Attorney General has simply succeeded in doing is making a reference to relevant constitutional provisions and establishing a position that every Nigerian is entitled to freedom of movement simpliciter.
“So, the issue is whether that freedom of movement is constitutionally guaranteed, or not. And my answer is, the freedom of movement is indeed, constitutionally guaranteed.”