Reports reaching us say the much celebrated regional security outfit in the south west “Amotekun” has been declared as an illegal body by the Federal Government.
The regional security outfit was launched on Thursday last week in the former capital of the defunct western region, Ibadan as a fresh initiative to tackle security challenges in the geo-political zone.
Although the governors in the zone publicly claimed that the outfit enjoys the support of the government at the centre, the office of the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice on Tuesday evening put a lie to the claim.
In a statement issued on behalf of the attorney-general, Abubakar Malami by his media adviser, Umar Jibrillu Gwandu described the setting up the “Amotekun” as not only illegal but runs contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian law.
The statement explained that the Nigerian constitution only recognises the Army, Navy, Air Force, the Police and other numerous paramilitary organisations for the purpose of the defence of Nigeria.
The statement further stated that Nigeria is a sovereign entity and is governed by laws meant to sustain its corporate existence as a constitutional democracy.
It further pointed out that all matters relating to the peace, order, good government of the federation and defence are in the exclusive legislative list