Musa Calls Budna’s Claim “Absurd, Frivolous, Fanciful”

We’re hearing more fallout from the constitutional claim filed by attorney Arthur Saldiva, one that has pulled former Home Affairs Minister Kareem Musa into court as a private citizen, not in his former ministerial role. As you heard earlier, Musa is represented by the law firm of Courtenay and Coye because, he says, the claim is procedurally flawed and legally confusing from the start. According to Musa, the lawsuit mixes up personal and ministerial responsibility, leaving him no choice but to retain private counsel instead of being represented by the Attorney General. Speaking outside the courtroom today, he questioned the credibility of the claim entirely, calling it irregular, frivolous, and even fanciful, but said he showed up because, as an attorney, it’s his duty to do so. Here’s what he had to say.

 

Kareem Musa, Former Minister of Home Affairs

“There are better things that I could be doing right now, but as an officer of the court, as I am an attorney at law, I know it’s my duty to make an appearance when it is that we have a court date. I think that is perhaps one of the beauties of our democracy, that anybody could sue anybody no matter how absurd or how frivolous. As you have heard yourself, how fanciful that may be. This case was brought against me. It’s fraught with irregularities, let’s start there in terms of the procedure because not only does it say the Minister of National Security, I believe, or Home Affairs, but it then names me. And so the claimant is going after me personally and as the minister. And so they didn’t even know in what capacity they’re bringing the claim, as you heard Mr. Saldivar on his foot say again today. So that is one of the complications because ordinarily this case would have had the representation of the Attorney General for all parties. But because it named me personally, I decided to hire a private law firm to handle this matter.”

 

Reporter

“So you brought out the big guns.”

 

Kareem Musa

“Well, the big guns come out when it’s a big day. And that’s where things stand for now. With Musa calling the claim irregular and confused, and with private counsel already in play, the court’s next move will determine whether this case goes anywhere, or whether it ends right where it started.”