TheNewsGuru

Tag: Abubakar Malami

  • FG orders prosecution of Benjamin Joseph for malicious falsehood against Zinox Chairman, Leo Stan Ekeh

    FG orders prosecution of Benjamin Joseph for malicious falsehood against Zinox Chairman, Leo Stan Ekeh

    1. The Attorney General of the Federation has directed the police to prosecute to its logical conclusion the court case instituted against Benjamin Joseph, MD of Citadel Oracle Concept Ltd who the police said falsely accused the Chairman of Zinox Telecommunications Ltd, Leo Stan Ekeh and others of fraud totaling N170m.
    3. In a letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police Alkali Baba Usman, which was sighted by TheNewsGuru.com (TNG), the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, gave approval for the case which is already in court, to be pursued to its logical conclusion.

    “I am directed to inform you that in view of the additional information the police has furnished the Office of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation (HAGF) on the matter and the progress the police has so far made in the prosecution of the case, the HAGF has approved that the Police conduct the prosecution of the case to its logical conclusion,” the letter signed by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation M.B. Abubakar, read in part.

    The owner of Citadel Oracle Concepts Limited Benjamin Joseph, had petitioned the Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) on 3rd July 2014, alleging that the Chairman of Zinoc Chairman Leo Stan Ekeh, alongside Chief S. O Igbokwe, Princess O. Kama, Mrs Folashade Oyebode, Mr Chris Eze Ozims, Adams Digital Technologies Limited, Pirovics Engineering Service Limited and Technology Distributions Limited, of conspiring to forge his signature and acting on his behalf to secure and execute a contract with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to the tune of N170 million, without his consent.

    However, investigations were carried out by the FCID, and the result of a forensic analysis of the disputed signature revealed that Joseph’s signature was not forged and that he had in fact, issued a letter of authority to Princess O. Kama, to act on his behalf in securing and executing the botched contract. The FCID further recommended that he be charged to court for giving false information to mislead the force.

    Joseph was subsequently charged to court on 2nd June, 2016 and the case is currently at defence stage. Despite his ongoing trial, the accused petitioned the Inspector General of Police, seeking his “timely intervention against miscarriage of justice being perpetrated by some deep pocketed syndicates”. The case was directed to the X-Squad for further investigation and the Commissioner of Police in charge Ameachi Elumelu, issued a report recommending that the case against Joseph be withdrawn.

    But the Commissioner of Police, Legal at the Force Headquarters Emienbo Assayomo in another report dated 1st December 2020, said the recommendation to withdraw the charge against Joseph was made inadvertently without reference to the facts in the case diary, especially the forensic analysis report on the board resolution and the letter of authority, which was the crux of the matter. The report added that CP Elumelu had given instruction for a continuation of the prosecution of Joseph, in view of substantial evidence availed, which substantiates the charge of false petition against the accused.

    Legal representative of Zinoc Telecommunications Limited and four others accused of conspiracy by Joseph, Matthew Burkaa, also pointed out that the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in charge No. FCT/HC/CR/244/2018, had dismissed as “false petitioning” had indicted the complainant for forwarding false information to the Nigerian Police Force and awarded a fine of N20 million against him to serve as a deterrent to others who might want to mislead security agencies by forwarding false complaints against innocent Nigerians.

    He also accused Joseph of sponsoring false, distorted and damaging reports about the matter in the media, with an ulterior motive to blackmail, drag and bring down in clients.

    “We have been reliably informed by our clients that the main issue that ignited the above publications relates to a 2012 Credit Sales of HP Laptops to Citadel Oracle Concepts Limited on an interest-free credit facility when they could not fund the contract awarded to them by FIRS to supply laptops, along with twelve other companies.

    After FIRS paid all suppliers who were funded by Technology Distribution (TD), other companies paid RD the pre-agreed invoice value. But Mr Benjamin Joseph, the MD of Citadel, tried to divert TD’s fund but his partner Princess Kama resisted that move…a dispute arose between Benjamin Joseph and his partner, princess Kama, on profit sharing,” Burkaa said in a statement dated 4th October, 2022.

    He said that the publications against his clients contained misleading half-truths carefully skewed to cause them embarrassment and hurt their business interests and promised to explore all available legal means to address the libelous contents contained in the publications.

    Further hearing of the case filed by the police against Joseph before Justice U. P. Kekemeke of the FCT High Court, will continue on 3rd November, 2022.

  • UNGA77: Nigeria demonstrated workability of returned looted assets – Malami

    UNGA77: Nigeria demonstrated workability of returned looted assets – Malami

    Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has said that Nigeria has demonstrated the workability of application of returned looted assets for sustainable development.

    Malami disclosed this in his remarks at a High-Level side event on ”Food Security Response: Combating Illicit Financial Flows and Securing Asset Returns for Sustainable Development’‘, on the margins of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly.

    The event was co-hosted by African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Malami said in 2017, the 322 million dollars recovered looted assets from Swissland laid the solid foundation of getting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.

    He said it got millions out of poverty through the Social Investment Programmes that include National Homegrown School Feeding Programme, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, N-Power job creation and youth empowerment programme and National Social Safety Net programme, amongst others.

    Malami said that Food Security Response was placed on top of Africa’s 2022 agenda to align with the Global Sustainable Development Goal “to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture” by 2030.

    He noted that crisis experienced in the globe as well as onslaughts of terrorism and criminality continued to exacerbate challenges to world peace posed by starvation, malnutrition, diseases, climate change which he said continue to contribute to a worsening global economy.

    “Indeed, these challenges are truly interlocking and have put our collective ability to devise innovative solutions to the test”.

    While highlighting the nexus between illicit financial flows and food security, Malami cited reports from law enforcement agencies especially the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that showed that IFFS undermine efforts to development including food security.

    He said that the Federal Government has put in place laws and frameworks to address IFFs, noting that this year, President Muhammad Buhari has signed the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act, (2022), the Proceed of Crimes Act among others.

    The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), however, stressed the imperative of international support and cross-border collaboration in implementing measures to combat illicit financial flows.

    According to the AGF, “transformative solutions to the thorny issues of International Financial Follows (IFFs), looting, internet-related crimes and other threats to global economic growth and development, necessarily require international collaboration and cross-border cooperation of all stakeholders”.

    Malami recall that in response to the threat posed by IFFs, the United Nations General Assembly, since its 72nd Session, placed the “promotion of international cooperation to combat illicit financial flows and strengthen good practices on assets return to foster sustainable development” on its agenda item 16 (d).

    He noted that African Continent bears the major consequences of IFFs, which has continued to derail its journey towards the African Union’s Agenda 2063 that envisions “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens, representing a dynamic force in the international arena.”

    According to Malami, the vision, can only be realised when the key to life, ‘nourishment’ is guaranteed and secured maintaining that “tackling illicit financial flows, in terms of blocking the leakages and recovery of looted assets, will open the door to releasing the much-needed investment in productive sectors, inclusive of food security”.

    In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria, Gloria Akobundu said, “the forum was adopted in 2018 as an annual event with the objective to promote peer-to-peer learning for best practices and strengthen partnership for good governance.

    “If Africa’s population and land space are credibly and productively harnessed, it will not only address these challenges but will be a turnaround for world economic boost and sustainable development.”

    Newsmen reports that President Muhammadu Buhari attended the event and spoke on ways to address corruption in the continent.

  • Nigeria modernizing IP law in line with current realities – Malami

    Nigeria modernizing IP law in line with current realities – Malami

    The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, says the Federal Government is working to ensure that the country’s Intellectual Property (IP) law and administration are in line with current realities.

    Malami said this on Monday when the Senior Counsellor, World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Ms Lorreta Asiedu, led a delegation to pay him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja.

    The minister was represented by the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General, Ministry of Justice, Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba.

    “I assure you that we are committed to modernizing the entire IP system in Nigeria. This will include the Trade Mark Act, the Patent and Design Act.

    “There are also legislative work that we will be looking at to ensure that it is in line with the new copyright law.

    “We hope that this will also serve as catalyst for needed reforms in all aspect of IP law and administration and then bring them in line with current reality in this digital age,’’ Malami said.

    Earlier, Asiedu said the visit was to seek the minister’s support on WIPO’s efforts in developing National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy for the country.

    She said that WIPO had been working with the Nigerian Copyright Commission, consultants and relevant stakeholders in developing the National IP Policy and Strategy for Nigeria.

    “This request is a long standing one and we are happy that finally we are able to bring it to this level.

    “This is where we can invite stakeholders to look at the document, appreciate it, add their input before it is finalised and validated for consideration by policymakers.

    “We are here to seek your support by adopting the National IP policy and strategy,’’ the WIPO official said.

    According to her, with this development, Nigeria will be joining other African countries that have adopted IP policy and strategy.

    “What does this stand for the country is that it creates a framework within which WIPO and its partners can support the exploitation of the IP to make impact in the lives of IP users.

    “Under our medium strategic plan, the five-year vision aimed at supporting IP so that it makes an impact in the lives of ordinary citizens.

    “We want to harness the IP potential of youths in the country through the framework of the National IP policy and strategy.

    “We are looking at supporting the youth entrepreneurs to understand and appreciate IP system; we want to engage in mentorship and coaching programmes,’’ Asiedu said.

    According to her, WIPO also wants to use IP to support the country’s Development Goals.

    “Within a framework of the National IP policy and strategy, we are able to identify the comparative advantage that the country has.

    “So, the area in which a country has a comparative advantage that is what we dwell to ensure that we undertake projects that make impact in the lives of IP users community.’’

    Asiedu added that WIPO intended to extend its reach not only within the legislative framework of the country, but also to knowledge production institutions like universities and research institutions.

    “We also want to bring together industry and academia so that we bridge the gap from the time that idea takes off, to when it  heads into market place,’’ she said.

    Similarly, the delegation was received separately by the Ministers of Science and Technology, Dr Adeleke Mamora, Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and Trade and Investment, Otunba Adebayo Adeniyi.

    They pledged to support the adoption and implementation of the National IP policy and strategy, saying that the policy was imperative to the development of all sectors of Nigeria’s economy.

  • 34th Session of CNMC: Nigeria will not hesitate to meet her financial commitment – Malami

    34th Session of CNMC: Nigeria will not hesitate to meet her financial commitment – Malami

    The minister of justice and attorney general of the federation Abubakar Malami, has assured the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission (CNMC), that Nigeria will not hesitate to meet her financial obligations towards the quick and successful execution of its mandate.

    He gave the assurance at the 34th session of the CNMC organised by the Nigeria Boundary Commission (NBC) at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja Nigeria.

    Assuring the commission of Nigerians Financial commitment to its, mandate, Malami Said “I want to assure you that Nigeria is committed to the quick and successful execution of the mandate of the mixed commission and will not hesitate to meet her financial commitment in that respect.

    Malami who led the Nigerian delegation expressed satisfaction at the leadership of the Chairman of the commission, his excellency Mahamat Saleh Annadif.
    According to him, he said; “Mr chairman please permit me to observe that under your able leadership and guidance, the CNMC has made rapid progress and recorded landmark achievements in the implementation of its mandate within the shortest period of time.

    The just concluded Pillar construction exercise block 6AB and C, under allentical mountain is a milestone achievement in view of the difficulty in accessing the area. It is also on record that under your able leadership, we jointly resolved the challenges previously associated with some of the major disagreement areas we inherited and these agreements were reduced, from 13 to just 3 as at today.”

    Mr chairman it is to your credit that we have also improved on the frequencies of our meetings, we had the 33rd session of the CNMC, in November 2021, and here we are today having the 34th session barely just about a ninth month period of time, this is indeed a great achievement Compared to about seven years period between the 32nd and the 33rd session which indeed could only hold after a span of seven years.

    Your amiable disposition your excellency, capacity to deal with intricate issues, and dogged determination to achieve a set goal are immensely applauded by Nigeria and I believe Cameroon as well.
    Accordingly, we must therefore commend your services in the continent and to our countries. I wish to also recognise and express gratitude to our two presidents and indeed the secretary general of the United Nations for the encouraging financial support accorded the exercises.”

    Also Present at the event were delegations from Cameroon led by Minister Zoah Michel, Chairman of the CNMC; H.E. Mahamat Saleh Annadif, Nigerian Ambassador to Cameroon; Abayomi Olonisakin, the Director General NBC; Adamu Adaji, among other various dignitaries

  • Abacha loot: Another $23 million on the way to Nigeria from US

    Abacha loot: Another $23 million on the way to Nigeria from US

    The Federal Government has signed an agreement with the United States of America for the repatriation of more assets stolen by the former leaders, including Late General Sani Abacha, worth $23 million.

    The agreement was signed on Tuesday.

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), signed the agreement on behalf of the Federal Government, while the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, signed for the government of the United States.

    The AGF, in his speech shortly before signing the agreement, said the recovered assets, which were made possible with the cooperation of the governments of United States and United Kingdom would be used in the infrastructural development of the country.

    Also Read

    $2.4b Abacha loot returned so far to Nigeria, $192m still in UK, France, Jersey

    According to him, efforts were being intensified for the recovery and repatriation of more of the looted assets.

    Malami noted that the fund when returned will be invested in three ongoing projects by the Federal Government, including the ongoing Abuja-Kaduna road and the 2nd Niger Bridge.

    In 2006, about $723 million in Abacha loot was returned to Nigeria from Switzerland.

    In 2020 equally, the US and Jersey also agreed to return over $308 million in confiscated funds to Nigeria.

    Nigeria has in the past recovered several other tranches of the Abacha loot, which are proceeds believed to have been diverted from public coffers by the military administration of General Sani Abacha in the 1990s.

  • Explainer: Understanding the $418 Paris club refund controversy

    Explainer: Understanding the $418 Paris club refund controversy

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Monday denied claims that it reached an agreement with the federal government, over the controversial $418 Paris club refund payment to six consultants.

    The consultants and their claims are Ned Munir Nwoko ($68.7 million); Dr Ted Isighohi Edwards ($159 million); Panic Alert Security Systems Limited ($47.8 million); Riok Nigerian Limited ($142 million); Nwafor Orizu ($1.2 million) and Olaitan Bello ($215 million).

    “As far as I know, no financial transaction takes place without signing papers. Let them bring the papers that were signed; let them show us evidence of that agreement,” a spokesperson of the NGF Abdulrasaque Barkindo stated in an interview on Monday.

    He also denied claims made by the lead consultant for the recovery of over-deductions from Paris and London clubs debt buyback funds Ned Nwoko, on Saturday, that the NGF received the sum of $100 million to prosecute elections in some states of the country.

    “That’s a lie from the pit of hell. The Nigeria Governors Forum does not prosecute elections. There is no way an organization that runs with all the 36 governors who come from three different parties will now prosecute an election; for who?

    “The point is, these people continue to fabricate things. The Nigeria Governors Forum does not involve itself (sic). As a matter of fact, we shut down during political periods. So how will anybody from the APC take money and campaign for the opposing party, because the states he (Nwoko) mentioned are Bauchi, Osun, and Ekiti. These states belong to two parties,” Barkindo said.

    Four months ago, in a letter dated April 4, the 36 states of the federation had warned the federal government not to tamper with funds accruing to them and the 774 local councils under the guise of satisfying an alleged $418 million London/Paris Club Loan refund-related judgment debts.

    The letter which was signed by the body of Attorneys-General of the Federation Interim Chairman Moyosore Onigbanjo, was in response to a November 11, 2021 letter from the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, advertising the commencement of the deduction for liquidation of the alleged judgment debts.

    The states said they were not parties to any suit on the London/Paris Club refund, and as such were not liable to any person or entity in any judgment debt being relied on by the federal government.

    The NGF argued that an attempt to restart the deduction process, which is in Courts and for which the Supreme Court has made a pronouncement, would be unconstitutional, causing President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Minister of Finance Zainab Ahmed, to suspend plans to begin the deduction. But the Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, insists the NGF had no basis to reject the proposed deductions.

    Background

    In 1985, Nigeria owed the Paris Club creditors $8 billion which grew in interest to about $30 billion in 20 years. By October 2005, the Nigerian delegation headed by then minister of finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, negotiated the Paris Club agreement which stated that the club would “write off” 60 per cent ($18 billion) of Nigeria’s debt to members of the club, while Nigeria would pay back the remaining 40 per cent in two phases

    The federal government entered into agreements with state governments to deduct certain amounts from their federal allocation to service the debts and by April 2006, Nigeria transferred $4.5 billion to the recipient countries to complete repayment of all debt owed to the Paris Club of creditors. However, some states were overcharged in the debt servicing arrangement and applied for a refund.

    In December 2016, the federal government agreed to refund the states, but in three tranches. but controversy ensued when some consultants demanded money for their service in facilitating the payment. A former Military Governor of Kaduna State, Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, said some governors agreed with some consultants to pay fees ranging between 10 to 30 per cent to secure a refund.

    There was also an allegation that about N3.5 billion was paid out as consultancy fees by a collective of the NGF and some of the funds were reportedly traced to the bank accounts of senior members of the Senate.

    President Buhari had approved the payment of the contractors through the issuance of Promissory Notes, but this was resisted by the NGF. One of the contractors, Riok Nigeria Limited, who is a beneficiary of the Promissory Notes for $142 million and who had lost at the Court of Appeal, further appealed to the Supreme Court in suit no.: SC 337/2018.

    The Supreme Court on June 3, dismissed Riok’s appeal as lacking in merit, noting that neither the NGF nor the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has the power to award contracts and charge the same directly to the Federation Account as done in the case.

    The apex court held that funds belonging to a state or local government must be kept in an account belonging to the State or Local Government as the case may be disbursed or expended by the state strictly in the manner and for the purposes prescribed in the Constitution and an Appropriation Law.

    The dismissal of RIOK’S case by the Supreme Court also affected the payment to two private lawyers to RIOK – Nwafor Orizu ($1.2 million) and Olaitan Bello ($215 million) who were also beneficiaries of Promissory Notes issued by the Debt Management Office (DMO). Besides RIOK and the two lawyers, the NGF is also challenging the claims made by the other contractors.

    However, the minister of justice has accused the state governors of reneging on their agreement with the consultants, insisting they have no basis for complaining about the Paris Club refund deductions paid to consultants they hired.

    “The Governor’s forum comprising all the governors sat down commonly agreed on the engagement of a consultant to provide certain services for them relating to the recovery of the Paris Club. So, it was the governor’s forum under the federal government in the first place that engaged the consultant,” Malami said.

    According to him, among the components of the claim presented for the consideration of the federal government by the governors, was a component related to the payment of these consultants, implying that the governors had recognized the consultants and upheld their claims.

    However, the Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Ekiti State Kayode Fayemi, has insisted that there was no collective agreement between the consultants and the NGF, adding that the forum has requested the consultants to provide evidence of work done.

    “There is no component that compels the governors’ forum to pay consultants anything, and there is no agreement between the consultants collectively and governors collectively,” Fayemi maintained.

  • Paris Club Refund: We are owed $68m not $418m – Ned Nwoko

    Paris Club Refund: We are owed $68m not $418m – Ned Nwoko

    Mr Ned Nwoko, the Lead Consultant for the recovery of over deductions from Paris and London clubs debt buy back funds, says his firm was being owed only 68 million dollars not 418 million dollars.

    Nwoko was reacting to the flurry of allegations and claims trailing his company’s demand for the payment of fees from the state governments and local government councils in the country, on Saturday in Abuja.

    The Lead Consultant of Linas International, frowned at the recent outbursts of the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, regarding the Paris Club refund.

    The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, had featured at the weekly briefings coordinated by the Presidential Media Team, on Aug. 11, where he spoke extensively on issues surrounding the refund,

    He stated that there was no basis for agitation by the NGF concerning deductions from the Paris Club refund paid to the consultants they hired.

    Malami had also described the governors’ action as akin to crying over spilled milk.

    The governors after their deliberations at the Presidential Villa Abuja on Wednesday, allegedly accused the Minister of orchestrating the deductions from their funds to settle the consultancy fees.

    Nwoko, however, absolved Malami of any wrongdoing as he said the minister was only trying to ensure that the law was obeyed.

    He revealed that the money being owed to the consultants was 68 million dollars and not 418 million dollars that had been in public space.

    According to him, his firm has nothing to do with 418 million dollars, saying this must be a miscalculation.

    He absolved the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami of any wrongdoing as he said the minister was only trying to ensure that the law was obeyed.

    ”I am compelled to embark on this public engagement to debunk the litany of lies, spin and false narratives that had been dished out.

    ”This was to abuse the minds of the undiscerning public by the Chairman of NGF, Fayemi, against the payment of consultancy fees.

    ”The fees are legitimately earned and owed my firm for services rendered and which the states and local governments have fully been refunded.

    ”The outstanding fees owed my firm with regards to last work done for the states is approximately 68million dollars and not 418million dollars as maliciously sought to be conveyed by Fayemi and co.

    ”Our original claims calculated based on agreed terms was well in excess of 300million dollars.

    ”We offered huge discount on the entitlement to accept the 68million dollars,” he said.

    Nwoko stated that the agreements and judgment being executed were reached before the advent of the present administration.

  • We have secured 1000 convictions on terrorism – Malami

    We have secured 1000 convictions on terrorism – Malami

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, says the ministry has secured no fewer than 1000 convictions on terrorism within 18 months.

    Malami disclosed this on Thursday at the 46th session of State House Ministerial Briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team in Abuja.

    He said that within the period under review, the ministry had been involved in 312 cases ranging from terrorism to maritime offences, armed robbery, cyber-crime and kidnapping, among others.

    The minister said that the justice sector encompassed all institutions of government involved in administration, enforcement and dispensation of justice.

    “This sector extends beyond the federal level and cuts across sub-national entities and the three arms of government—the judiciary, the executive and the legislature.

    “Effective collaboration and coordination is therefore at the crux of the mandate of the Federal Ministry of Justice.”

    Malami said that the briefing highlighted not only the policy initiatives of the ministry, but also extended to critical achievements in the justice sector through policies and initiatives.

    ”They are targeted at improving legislative policies, the judicial system, correctional system, law enforcement, constitutional guarantees and other critical component of the entire justice sector system.

    “All these are fundamental to ensuring access to justice, safety, security and in combating corruption as well economic and financial crimes in Nigeria,’’ he stated.

    Malami said that the justice sector, as with every other sector, had continued to witness some challenges which constituted impediments to justice.

    Malami said that through the instrumentality of the Office of the Attorney General, all justice sector stakeholders had built consensus.

    He added that they had led to the identification of the challenges and resulted in the development and adoption of the first e ever National Justice Policy in 2017.

    Malami said :“Following this landmark achievement of consensus among the justice sector stakeholders, all justice sector institutions across the country have continued to collaborate.

    ”They have also provided frameworks for the realisation of the objectives set out in the National Justice Policy.

    “It is our firm expectation that the full implementation of the proposals in the national policy on justice sector would lead to greater synergy and shared knowledge among all stakeholders involved in the administration of justice.

    “But, whatever successes we are about to unfold under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari are  the products of that consensus.

    ”We are happy to state for the first time in the history of this nation, we are  doing wonderfully well arising from the consensus that has been built among these stakeholders in the administration of justice.’’

    He said that his focus was on the criminal prosecution by the ministry on the last 18 months.

    Malami said that at a point, the country was confronted with the challenge related to the speedy administration of justice.

    He said that the Federal Ministry of Justice, through a consensus building by legislature, the executive and ministries, came up the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and its implementation to speed up prosecution.

    “We were confronted further with the challenge that high profile anti-corruption cases.

    “Those involved in it were using the proceeds of the crime in question to pose a greater challenge to what we are doing.

    ”This is arising from their movements, arising from the deployment of such resources, we also came up the Executive Order No 6 which restricts their access to funding,” the minister said.

    He said that on the basis of the act and the executive order, the foundation for prosecution was laid.

    The minister said that aside collaborative achievements, the ministry had made exclusive landmark achievements.

    “So, arising therefrom, for example, by way of criminal prosecution, the Federal Ministry of Justice, exclusively, I am not talking about the entire prosecution because other agencies of government—EFCC, NDLEA, ICPC are equally involved in direct prosecution.

    “So, the Federal Ministry of Justice, within the 18 months period, I am talking about, was actively involved in the prosecution of 312 criminal cases.

    ”These were for various offences including terrorism, maritime offences, armed robbery, cyber-crime and kidnapping, among others.

    “We have so far, as a ministry secured over 1000 convictions on terrorism within the period in consideration,’’ he said.

  • Malami restates commitment to quality education in Kebbi

    Malami restates commitment to quality education in Kebbi

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has restated his commitment to complementing the efforts of Federal and State Governments in providing higher quality education in Kebbi.
    Malami made this known during a prize-giving day of Rayhaan Model Academy Birnin Kebbi on Saturday.
    He described the establishment of Rayhaan Model Academy as part of his contribution to complement the efforts of the governments in stabilising education in the state.
    “This informs the decision to have a trailblazer model academy, Rayhaan Model Academy Birnin Kebbi.
    He said the school was established out of the aspiration to complement government’s effort in the promotion of quality education for the country.
    Malami expressed optimism that the academy would produce high Calibre of intellectuals in  universities who would join the wider competitive global society.
    “I hope in the nearest future, the students from the academy will  contribute immensely in the fields of engineering, medicine, industries, administration and entrepreneurship, among others,” he said.
    Malami commended the parents and guardians for entrusting the care of their wards in the academy and promised to ensure that their dream had come to fruition.
    The minister also appreciated both teaching and non-teaching staff for their contributions to the development of the academy.
    Earlier, Dr Nasir Idris, the APC governorship candidate, lauded the tremendous contribution of Malami to educational development and service to humanity in the state.
    He said that the name of the minister would be written in gold as a politician per excellence and unique philanthropist.
    Idris said his political journey would not be complete without the minister.
    The Chairman, Board of Directors of the Academy, Malam Isiyaku Abdullahi, disclosed that the academy had graduated 102 students in the event out of 405 students currently in the school.
    “The school has become one of the best in the state within such a short period of operation and the choice of many children and parents in the state,” he said.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Alhaji Bashar Illo, the Chief Launcher at the event, donated  N5 million;  Alhaji Garba Illo and his relatives  donated N5 million and Dr Nasiru Idris gave N10 million.
    Others are Khadimiyya For Justice and Development Initiative which donated  a mobile science laboratory with N1 million.
  • Buhari will secure Nigeria before leaving office – Malami

    Buhari will secure Nigeria before leaving office – Malami

    The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, says the country will be restored to its past glory, where peace would reign before the end of President Buhari’s tenure.

    He added that President Buhari was working sleeplessly to ensure that all mechanisms were put in place for not only a seamless transition of power next year but also to ensure that the present challenge of insecurity bedevilling the country is brought to an end.

    Malami made the statement yesterday while felicitating with the Muslim Ummah on this year’s Eid-al-adha celebrations in Birnin Kebbi.

    “I want to reassure you that the Buhari-led administration will continue to do everything possible to secure this country. I pray that God would answer our prayers for a lasting peace in Kebbi State and the country as a whole, as well as a peaceful political transition early next year,” he said.