Keycee Madu was asked to step aside after allegation of ticketing offence surfaced
Alberta justice minister and solicitor general Kaycee Madu has be asked to step back from ministerial duties by Premier Jason Kenney the provinces premier and leader of the United Conservative Party, pending the completion of an investigation.
Report has it that the justice minister was fined for using his phone while driving only for him to solicit the Edmonton’s police chief to rescind the ticket fine.
“In the interim period, I have asked Minister Madu to step back from his ministerial duties,” Kennedy tweeted on Tuesday. “Minister Sonya Savage will act as Minister of Justice and Solicitor General during Minister Madu’s leave of absence.”
The Nigerian-born minister was pulled over on March 10, 2021 and fined $300 for being on his cellphone while driving in a school zone, of which he allegedly called Edmonton police Chief Dale McFee to discuss the ticket.
Madu claimed he was pulled over by an Edmonton police officer, who alleged he was driving while on his phone, whereas, his phone was in his pocket when he was pulled over and booked for the offence.
But according to Court records, Madu paid $300 fine two days after he was issued a ticket for operating a vehicle while using a cellphone.
On Madu’s part, he claims the whole incidence could be linked to racial profiling because he did not commit the offence.
“To be abundantly clear, at no point did I request that the ticket be rescinded. I would never do that. However, in that particular call, I regret raising the issue at all with the Chief McFee,” Madu said.
“Due to the timing of the incident, I wanted to ensure that I was not being unlawfully surveilled following the controversy surrounding the Lethbridge Police Service.
“I also raised concerns around profiling of racial minorities that was in the media at the time.”
The incidence attracted the concern of the Alberta opposition party, NDP justice critic – Irfan Sabir, who said Madu should resign as such action by him is “wholly unnacceptable”.
According to Sabir accusation, “his position as minister to initiate this conversation, and regardless of whether he asked the chief to cancel the ticket, it is political interference for him to have discussed it all.”
However, Kenney said he “will appoint a respected independent investigator to review the relevant facts and to determine whether there was interference in the administration of justice in this case.”