Acting outside the legal procedures prescribed by law will lead to irreparable consequences: Nishan

Legal expert Mohamed Nishan Ibrahim has warned that attempting to bypass legally established procedures will lead to irreparable consequences.

Speaking on RaajjeTV’s "Fala Surukhee" program, Nishan observed that while the current administration is frequently seen signing agreements for various island development projects, these initiatives remain at a standstill. He noted that the President appears to sign new agreements during every island visit, yet no actual progress is visible on the ground. Nishan further asserted that the primary reason these projects fail to advance is that the agreements are merely symbolic. He characterized them as superficial gestures orchestrated by the government solely for public display.

When a law explicitly mandates a specific procedure, any attempt to act in contradiction to it is bound to fail. Eventually, a point of legal friction will inevitably arise. We witnessed the President visiting various islands to sign off on 200 to 300 government projects simultaneously—massive, large-scale undertakings. When signing such significant projects, there are mandatory procedures to follow: there must be a competitive bidding process, a public announcement, and a designated contractor. There must also be legally binding agreements established with the parties involved. These contracts must specify the allocated funds, and when budgeting for a project, those funds must be verified as available, guaranteed as incoming revenue, or processed through legitimate financial transactions.

Attorney Mohamed Nishan Ibrahim

Nishan stated that these projects are conducted on a commercial basis. He explained that this is because the companies contracted to undertake such projects operate as commercial entities. He further noted that as these projects progress, formal agreements are established in accordance with the Maldives' Law of Contract and the Companies Act.

Emphasizing that such agreements must be upheld, Nishan stated that the government is merely performing superficial actions that contradict the terms of the agreements in an attempt to deceive the public. He further described these actions as nothing more than a mirage.

Nishan emphasized that every agreement carries legal weight. He noted that while upholding such commitments is a priority in Islamic Sharia, the government is signing these agreements as a mere facade to mislead the public. Nishan characterized these actions as crimes being committed by the current administration. He further warned that the ultimate consequence of these actions would be the complete stalling of projects.