The Federal Government has realised a total sum of N1,823,788,146.86 (One Billion, Eight Hundred and Twenty Three Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Eight Thousand, One Hundred and Forty-Six Thousand naira, Eighty-Six kobo) from the forfeited properties.
According to part of highlights of the achievements of the Federal Ministry of Justice reeled out at the PMB Administration Scorecard Series on Thursday in Abuja, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) said Buhari-led government had made giant strides in the fight against corruption.
On International recoveries, he said, “in in compliance with Presidential mandates and foreign judicial processes, it has recovered total sums of £6,324,627.66 (Six Million, Three Hundred and Twenty-Four Thousand, Six Hundred & Twenty Seven Pounds, Sixty-Six Pence);€5,494,743.71 (Five Million, Four Hundred and Ninety-Four thousand, Seven Hundred and Forty-Three Euro, Seventy-One Cents).
“And $390,000,000 (Three Hundred and Ninety Million dollars) from various jurisdictions. Some of the recovered funds are being utilized in financing of critical infrastructures including Abuja – Kano Expressway, Second Niger Bridge, and Lagos- Ibadan Expressway”, he said
AGF Malami added, “Due to the concerted effort by my Office in conjunction with relevant Stakeholders, including the legislature, the President recently assented to Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act 2022 (POCA) on 12th May 2022.
“I wish to state that POCA is the first legislation in Nigeria that comprehensively provides for mechanisms, processes and procedures for the tracing, restraint, seizure, confiscation, forfeiture and management of properties derived from unlawful activities.
“Its main objective is to take out the profits that incentivize and fund crime, with the ultimate aim of disrupting the cycle of crime and preventing future offences and corrupt practices,” he added.
Speaking on the impact of ministry’s litigation efforts on the economy, he said, “effective justice system is measured not only by number of cases which are successfully disposed of, but also strategic measures which are adopted to avoid litigation, in the first place.
“Using a combination of effective defence strategies to cases, including arbitration and mediation, as well as prosecution of appeals, the Ministry has succeeded in saving the country from huge avoidable debt liabilities”, Malami said.
The Justice Minister provided some insight into the number of cases brought against the president, federal government and its various agencies before different courts across the country. “A total of 648 (Six Hundred and Forty-Eight) cases instituted against the President, Federal Government and Agencies, before States, Federal and ECOWAS Courts were served on the Ministry.
“The cases are at different stages of trial. Diligent defence of these cases in the year 2022 alone saved the government from huge judgment debt liabilities to the tune of N142, 458,343,888.52 (One Hundred and Forty-Two Billion, Four Hundred and Fifty-Eight Million, Three Hundred & Forty-Three Thousand, Eight Hundred & Eighty-Eight Naira, Fifty-Two Kobo).
“And US$507,415,901.19 (Five Hundred & Seven Million, Four Hundred & Fifteen Thousand, Nine Hundred & One Dollars, Nineteen Cents). These cases were handled by in-house State Counsel in the Ministry; and thus saved the Country from further liabilities that would have accrued from payment of external solicitors’ fees”, he said.