Pressure mounts on Yar’Adua to drop Aondoakaa

PRESIDENT Umaru Yar’Adua has of late been facing pressure from different groups and individuals, all canvassing for the removal of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa (SAN).

Those calling for the removal of the minister from office were said to have expressed worries that some of his actions and decisions had been making the Yar’Adua government rather unpopular.

The pressure on Yar’Adua is coming on the heels of moves by a Kaduna-based group, Northern Coalition for Democracy and Justice (NCDJ) for the removal of the Attorney-General of the Federation at a meeting with President Yar’Adua.

Recently, the Delta State Elders Forum led by Chief Edwin Clark had also called on President Yar’Adua to relieve Aondoakaa of his post claiming that the minister was not interested in fighting corruption.

Clark was reported to have hinged the call by his group for the removal of Aondoakaa on his attitude to the anti-corruption crusade as he was alleged to be protecting some former governors accused of corrupt practices.

The taking over of the management board of NICON Insurance has been cited as one of the latest reasons for the increased pressure on President Yar’Adua for Aondoakaa’s removal.

However, the Kaduna based NCDJ which spoke with the Nigerian Tribune through its National Secretary, Mallam Umar Farouk, and the Director of Publicity, Yunana Shibkau, said it had scheduled a meeting with the President essentially to press for Aondoakaa’s removal as justice minister.

The NCDJ listed Aondoakaa’s alleged omissions in office since he became the justice minister and stated that he had not proved himself to be committed to the principle of the rule of law and the fight against corruption contrary to his claims. Full Story