Reeling out the achivements of President Muhammadu Buhari in the judiciary sector, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami said the federal government has prosecuted 10,000 cases involving terrorism, anti-corruption, armed robbery, cyber-crimes and others in the last seven and half years.
He also announced the recovery of some forfeited loots in the sum of N1,823,788,146.86 locally and various sums in different components of foreign currencies internationally.
The Minister gave these highlights at the PMB Scorecard Media Series, organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture on Thursday in Abuja.
Speaking at the session, he said, “in a federation and constitutional democracy such as ours, collaboration between the Federal, State and other stakeholders in the justice sector is critical to drive the reforms of the justice system for national development.”
He said: “In conjunction with relevant security and Law Enforcement Agency (LEA) the Ministry has developed a framework for Joint Investigation and Collaboration geared towards engagement of prosecution-guided investigation in terrorism cases, to address challenges of successful prosecutions.
“Furthermore, a robust interface has been developed between the office of the HAGF and Law Enforcement Agencies for synergy and good working relationship in the area of arrest, investigations, as well as Case Management, also as part of efforts to enhance prosecution of cases.
“A total of 3,000 terrorism cases have been profiled to date out of which over 1500 cases were prosecuted, with 397 convictions realised.
“A total of 7000 cases involving various offences including Maritime, Armed Robbery, Vandalization of Electrical Equipment and Pipelines, Financial matters, Cyber Crime, Kidnapping and Anti-corruption have been successfully prosecuted.
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“The ministry is coordinating the next phase of terrorism related trials in collaboration with the Federal High Court, the Legal Aid Council, and the Defence Headquarters. In this regard, the Ministry is currently remodeling structures at the Wawa Cantonment, Kainji to accommodate eight (8) courtrooms, Judges’ Chambers, living accommodation, Lawyers’ dressing room and conveniences to make them conducive for Judges, Witnesses as well as Defendants.”
On local asset recovery and management, Malami said the Buhari-led government had made giant strides in the fight against corruption.
From the sale of forfeited assets, he said the federal government realised “a total sum of N1,823,788,146.86 (One Billion, Eight Hundred and Twenty Three Million, Seven Hundred & Eighty-Eight Thousand, One Hundred and Forty-Six Thousand naira, Eighty-Six kobo) has been generated so far by the Ministry, from the forfeited properties.”
And on international recoveries, Malami also said, “in compliance with Presidential mandates and foreign judicial processes, the Ministry has recovered total sums of £6,324,627.66 (Six Million, Three Hundred & 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 the financing of critical infrastructures including Abuja – Kano Expressway, Second Niger Bridge, and Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.”
“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.
Malami also spoke on the impact of ministry’s litigation efforts on the economy, saying “effective justice system is measured not only by the number of cases which are successfully disposed of, but also and more importantly, 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.”
He also 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 its 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.
“The Ministry is also coordinating the defense of a number of international arbitration proceedings commenced against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other FGN Agencies. These include arbitration initiated by Sunrise Power over the Mambilla Power Project, Eni and Shell over operational rights. We have also made appreciable progress in the actions being taken to challenge the arbitral award in the case of Process & Industrial Development. The hearing of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s application to set aside the arbitral award will commence before the English Court shortly. It is important to stress that the efforts by the Ministry in defending these international cases has so far enabled Nigeria to avoid liabilities running into Billions of US Dollars,” he said.