FG builds global consensus on asset recovery

In its efforts to recovery stolen assets stashed abroad, the Federal Government is collaborating with various jurisdictions, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN, has said.

Malami said this known at the Ninth session of the Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) holding in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, on Monday.

Malami said significant progress has been recorded in the efforts to combat corruption in Nigeria.

He said with Pakistan, State of Palestine, Peru, Saudi Arabia and Kenya, Nigeria submitted a draft resolution entitled “Enhancing access to and the use of Beneficial Ownership Information to facilitate the identification, recovery and return of assets”, to further highlight the importance of beneficial ownership transparency.

This is made known in a statement by Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, special assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

“We have continued to make significant progress in our efforts to prevent and combat corruption, block leakages and recover our stolen assets,” Malami said.

Malami recalled that new laws and acts have been enacted by Nigeria to better combat corruption in the country.

“In realization that an effective Criminal Justice System is necessary for investigation and sanctioning corruption, Nigeria implementing the Justice Sector Reform Strategy covering issues such as International Cooperation Mechanisms, Mutual Legal Assistance and reform of the Criminal Justice System.

“We recently enacted a Mutual Legal Assistance Law in line with the recommendations from the UNCAC review, and also enacted the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit Act to create a stand-alone Financial Intelligence Unit,” he said.