Repeal ?Causing Financial Loss? Law -Dep. Minister

The Deputy Minister Designate of Justice, Patrick Ambrose Dery, says the law of ''causing financial loss to the state'' is dangerously elastic and should be amended or repealed by Parliament. According to him, the law is unconstitutional and questions the integrity of public officials.

Mr Dery said this when he appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament to be considered for appointment.

Commenting on the Mallam Issa, former Minister of Youth Sports, who was jailed for negligently causing financial loss to the State, Mr Dery said the decision of the Supreme Court was unusual because even though Malam Issah was negligent, he did not fraudulently cause any financial loss to the State.

Mr Dery, who represented Mallam Issa in court said even though he did not agree with the decision of the Appeal and Supreme Courts, he still respected their view and would respect the law even if appointed.

Asked whether the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General's Department should be de-linked, he said there was the need to weigh the two options adding that there were more benefits to linking them than de-linking them.

Mr Dery said conditions should be created to enable the citizenry to question any aspect of the Constitution contrary to perceptions that the constitution should not be questioned.