Alberta justice minister Kelechi Madu cleared of any wrongdoing following investigation

NIGERIAN-born Alberta justice minister Kelechi Madu has been cleared of any impropriety in relation to his violation of traffic laws last year following an investigation into the matter which found that he committed no wrongdoing.

Mr Madu, 48,  who was appointed as the justice minister and solicitor general of the Canadian province of Alberta in August 2020, was born and raised in southeast Nigeria and graduated from the University of Lagos with a law degree in 2001. He has practised law in both Nigeria and Alberta and he and his wife relocated to Canada in 2005.

In January, Mr Madu was suspended from duties following a traffic violation controversy that happened in March 2021. Apparently, Mr Madu has been accused of contacting police chief, Dale McFee, to rescind a ticket after he was ticketed in March 2021.

In March 2021, Mr Madu was pulled over and fined $300 for being on his cellphone in a school zone and apparently, he then phoned Mr McFee and discussed the violation with him. Following this revelation, Mr Madu was suspended while an investigation into the matter was conducted.

Following the end of the investigation, Mr Madu has been cleared and  been redeployed to the Alberta Ministry of Labour and Immigration. Jason Kenney, the premier of Alberta, had asked Mr Madu to step aside pending the outcome of an independent investigation into a March 10, 2021 incident.

Mr Kenney said: “It is clear from the report that his motivation in making the call was not to reverse the ticket but to raise broader concerns, particularly related to racial profiling. Nevertheless, as Ms Kent concludes, being angry, wanting assurances that he was not racially profiled are all understandable reactions, given the context of the phone call. It does not absolve the minister from responsibility but it is an explanation that deserves recognition.

“I also look forward to minister Madu’s continued contribution to important work of government as minister of labour and immigration where he will lead important reforms to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Programme and continued implementation of the Fairness for Newcomers Action Plan to help break down barriers to the economic success of immigrants. He will help to deliver on the Alberta Work Initiative, a key part of budget 2022’s plan to connect unemployed Albertans with available jobs through expanded training programmes.”

Mr Madu, who assumed the role in August 2020 and is the first black person to serve as a minister of justice in Canada, got fined for using his phone while driving in March 2021. He was accused of calling Mr McFee, after being slammed with a $300 fine he received for violating one of Canada’s traffic and safety regulations.