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Tag: Abubakar Malami

  • FG accuses Ibori of frustrating efforts to repatriate stolen funds

    FG accuses Ibori of frustrating efforts to repatriate stolen funds

    The Federal Government has accused former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori of acting as a stumbling block against the planned repatriation of about £4.2 million linked to him.

    This is contained in a letter addressed to a factional President-General of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Engineer Joseph Omene, who had earlier made a request that the confiscated assets linked to the former governor be used for projects in Delta state against using the funds for projects across the country.

    In a letter addressed to Engineer Omene, the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami urged the UPU to prevail on the former Delta State Governor to withdraw the suit he instituted against the United Kingdom on the confiscation and planned repatriation of the funds.

    Malami noted that the suit filed by Chief Ibori against the United Kingdom on the confiscated assets had become a stumbling block for repatriation and that the intervention of the UPU would create an enabling environment for the consideration of the appeal by the union that the alleged looted asset should be used to implement projects in the state.

    The AGF letter entitled: “Re-Commendation for Retrieval of Delta’s Stolen Funds and request for Review of Projects to be Executed with the Retrieved Funds”, was signed by Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, the Special Assistant to the President on Justice Reform and International Relations.

    The letter read: “I am directed to inform (you) that the HAGF is in receipt of your letter dated 23rd March 2021 with regard to the above subject matter. The HAGF appreciates your concerns and welcomes the interest of UPU in the returned assets.

    “The HAGF wishes to inform that he does not have the authority to approve projects for the application of returned assets.

    “These decisions are taken at the Federal Executive Council after in-depth deliberations. The HAGF’s mandate is to implement the decisions of the council.

    “I am also directed to inform further that the decision of the council is also guided by bilateral negotiations between Nigeria and the country from which the asset will be returned.

    “Accordingly, Nigeria and the government of the United Kingdom or any other country for that matter must agree on a specific project in a transparent and accountable manner before a project is approved.

    “However, the HAGF has directed that I inform you that the stumbling block in negotiating the return of assets linked to Ibori to Nigeria is the ongoing litigation by Mr James Ibori against the government of United Kingdom in the confiscation hearing in London.

    “It is advisable that you approach Mr James Ibori to advise him to withdraw his appeals against the confiscation and repatriation of the assets linked to him, his family, and associates back to Nigeria.

    “This is the only way to provide an enabling environment for negotiation of the use of the identified assets for Delta State.”

  • Ibori’s loot expected soon – Malami

    Ibori’s loot expected soon – Malami

    Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami said the Federal Government of Nigeria is working tirelessly to ensure the return of looted Nigerian assets kept outside the country’s territorial boundaries.

    To this end, Malami said any moment from now, Nigeria expects the return of £4.2m seized from the associates of convicted former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori.

    This is made known by Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and made available to news men in Abuja on Monday the 3rd day of May, 2022.

    The statement noted that sometimes when a country transfers funds, it may take a little bit time more than expected due to some documentations.

    He said the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and other relevant government agencies will keep the general public informed once the Ibori loot are received and confirmed.

    He said the Federal Government of Nigeria is in touch with the government of the United Kingdom on the matter.

    “Documentations with the banks in different countries often take longer than anticipated. We anticipated two weeks but we are not in control of the banks,” the statement said.

    He maintained that the Federal Government is working assiduously to make sure that the transfer goes through successfully.

    “There is neither complacency nor any delay as efforts are being made to ensure successful transfer of the looted funds,” he said.

  • Why I nominated Bawa for EFCC chair – Malami

    Why I nominated Bawa for EFCC chair – Malami

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has given reason why he nominated Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa to the chair of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Malami, who gave the reason in an interview on Monday, said four names, including that of Mr Bawa were submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for consideration on who to head the EFCC.

    President Buhari went with the choice of Bawa, and on February 24 the confirmed the appointment of Mr Bawa, who was nominated by the President on February 15, as the substantive chairman of the EFCC.

    In the interview with DailyTrust, Malami said his choice of Bawa as the chairperson of the EFCC was based on his competence.

    However, since Mr Bawa was appointed the fifth substantive EFCC chair, there have been mixed reactions from different quarters due to his relationship with the AGF, who has been alleged to have played a significant role in the removal of the former suspended acting EFCC chairman.

    Both Messrs Malami and Bawa are from Kebbi State but hail from different local government areas.

    Mr Bawa, 40, a pioneer EFCC cadet officer from Course One of 2005, rose through the ranks to head the Ibadan, Port Harcourt, and Lagos zonal offices of the commission at various times.

    But, Malami said despite the comments made on his selection of Mr Bawa, none of them challenged his capacity to deliver as head of the country’s leading anti-corruption agency.

    He also denied being related to Mr Bawa.

    “I am happy that most of the comments made are not on his capacity, intelligence, competence and associated ability to deliver. His capacity to deliver was never questioned across the nation.

    “The question is whether justice has been served, whether public interest has been served having the chairman appointed with a particular regard to his capacity and ability to deliver.

    “My answer is yes. He has the capacity, ability and institutional history of the institution to do justice by way of bringing about added value,” he said.

    Mr Malami said having headed three operational divisions of the commission, Mr Bawa’s credentials made him to be selected among the names forwarded to the president.

  • BREAKING: UK to return £4.2m recovered from Ibori in 2 weeks

    BREAKING: UK to return £4.2m recovered from Ibori in 2 weeks

    Government of the United Kingdom (UK) will in two weeks time return to Nigeria the sum of £4.2 million recovered from James Ibori, a former Governor of Delta State.

    The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami made this known on Tuesday in Abuja, the federal capital territory (FCT).

    According to Malami, the money would be used for the construction of the second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kano road, and Lagos-Ibadan Express road.

    This is coming as the UK government and the Nigerian government on Tuesday signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the repatriation of the money.

    Addressing journalists at the signing event, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing said the money was recovered from friends and family members of the former governor.

    She lamented that many Nigerians were in the habit of siphoning money from the country to the UK, saying that has also affected the level of trust between the two countries.

    Laing, however, warned that the UK will no longer be used as a destination for looters to siphon proceeds of crimes.

    TNG reports the MoU was signed at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Justice.

    Laing, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, stressed ill-gotten money is not welcome in the UK.

    “The return of these assets to Nigeria has been subject to a number of hard fought legal challenges by third parties which were defeated in the UK courts.

    “We will ensure the full weight of law enforcement to crack down those who use, move or hide their proceed of crime in the UK,” Laing said.

    Recall that in February 2012, Ibori pleaded guilty in a UK court to money laundering, conspiracy to defraud and forgery and was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

    Some of his associates and family members also received sentences for similar offences.

    The Commissioner said that transparent asset recovery is priority for both UK and Nigeria governments.

    “It is vital that this agreement makes strong provision for transparency, monitoring and accountability.

    “It is a guiding principle of both UK and Nigerian governments that stolen assets should be used for projects that benefit Nigeria’s poor”, she said.

    Meanwhile, Malami also stated that the federal government is committed to ensuring the transparent management of all recovered assets.

    “The assets returned will support and assist in expediting the construction of three major infrastructure projects across Nigeria.

    “The projects are the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Abuja – Kano road and the second Niger Bridge that are being executed under the supervision of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority.

    “The project will boost economic growth and help alleviate poverty by connecting people and supply chains from the East to the West and to the Northern part of Nigeria”.

    Also speaking, Mr Dayo Apata, SAN, the Solicitor-General of the Federation, while welcoming the guests said the ministry has fully assumed its leadership role in its constitutional duty in the administration of Justice in Nigeria.

    “It has led to the formulation of National Strategies/Action Plan for combating corruption.

    “Vigorous pursuing repatriation of recovered looted funds/assets in the face of daunting challenges.

    “Drafting of Bills to stifle corrupt practices and to bring about and efficient and beneficial management of the proceeds of crime amongst others”.

  • Minister of Justice reacts to death of Justice Ngwuta

    Minister of Justice reacts to death of Justice Ngwuta

    The Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has described the late Supreme Court Justice Sylvester Ngwuta as a great man who rendered selfless service that contributed immensely in nation building, with particular reference to the judiciary and justice sector.

    Malami, in a statement by Dr Umar Gwandu, Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, condoled with the people and government of Ebonyi, the Nigeria Bar Association and members of the Bench in mourning the legal luminary.

    He said the death of the eminent jurist created a huge vacuum in the Nigerian Justice Sector and in particular, the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

    “The late Supreme Court justice contributed to the development of the legal profession and the nation’s history will never forget him’’.

    While offering special prayers for the eternal repose of the departed soul, Malami prayed for the family of the deceased to have the fortitude to bear the great loss.

    The Chief Registrar of the court, Hadizatu Mustapha, said that the jurist died around 2.30am, on Sunday.

    “He felt sick and was admitted in the last one week in the National Hospital, Abuja, but before he was moved to the intensive care unit of the hospital on Friday, March 5 he tested negative to COVID-19 investigative test conducted on him.

    ”Justice Ngwuta was due to retire from the Supreme Court bench on attaining mandatory retirement age of 70 years on March 30, 2021.

    “His remains have been deposited in the National Hospital mortuary pending the arrangement for his burial” she said.

    The late jurist, who was elevated to the Supreme Court on March 22, 2011, was born on March 30, 1951 in Amofia-Ukawu, Onicha Local Government of Ebonyi State.

    He had his basic education in the Eastern part of Nigeria and got his LLB in the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), lle-ife in 1977 and BL at the Nigerian Law School in 1978.

    Justice Ngwuta was among eight superior court judges that were arrested after a sting operation the Department of State Service, DSS, conducted in October 2016.

    However, the Federal High Court in Abuja, in a judgement it delivered on March 23, 2018, struck out the charge after it held that the Federal Government failed to fulfill the condition precedent that is required before a serving judicial officer could be arrested or charged to court over corruption related offences.

    The court held that some of the allegations against him were vague.

    He was, therefore, discharged and acquitted of the charge.

  • Buhari has performed more than Obasanjo, others – Malami

    Buhari has performed more than Obasanjo, others – Malami

    Abubakar Malami, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, has stated that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government has outperformed his predecessors from 1999.

    Malami noted that the Buhari-led administration outperformed his predecessors in the area of infrastructural development.

    The AGF stated this while hosting some members of the All Progress Congress, APC, in Abuja, yesterday.

    Malami also insisted that the current APC-led administration has performed more than its critics.

    He said that the current administration inherited massive unemployment from previous governments.

    Malami said Buhari’s administration has been able to complete infrastructural projects past government budgeted funds but failed to execute them.

    He said: “Our party has not done too badly. We have great and good stories to tell and that can be established factually and not out of mere rhetorics.

    “In terms of infrastructures, this government has done much as well.

    “This government has completed the projects that were there in the last 16 years ago; that were budgeted for year in year out without any meaningful progress.”

     

     

  • Attack on me burden of leadership, says Malami

    Attack on me burden of leadership, says Malami

    The Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has described the reported attack on his person as the burden of leadership.

    Malami stated this in Birnin-Kebbi on Friday while fielding questions from newsmen as Muslim faithfuls mark Eid-el-Adha.

    He called on Muslims to continue to fervently pray for a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.

    “The period of Eid and sacrifices come with numerous lessons

    including sincerity, honesty, commitment, sacrifice, selflessness, introspection and empathy, among others”, he said.

    He also called for enhanced mutual understanding, peaceful co-existence, good neighbourliness and needy-centered approaches during the Sallah celebrations and beyond.

    He, therefore, urged Muslims to continue to be law abiding and embark on sober reflections as they celebrate the Eid .

    “Also, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, I urge you to observe all laid down safety protocols and guidelines as issued by the authorities with a view to containing the spread of the disease in the

    country”.

    The minister responded to questions from newsmen on the current media attack on his person.

    “I think that it is the burden of leadership that whoever is appointed a leader, will naturally be open to attacks, one way or another.

    “The good one has been doing can hardly be seen when one remains in office.

    “It has been a common tradition for people to attack the President, Governors and those at the helm of affairs or in positions of leadership and responsibility, and I cannot, certainly, be an exception”.

    He stressed that the constitution is clear on where there exists impunity and how it can best be handled and addressed.

    “It is not about attacks on persons, it is about compliance with the law, and we are there to fight impunity.

    “The bottomline is whether in the fight against impunity we are working in line and in tune with the law”.

    He said that the greatest consideration is what the Law provides and whether indeed we operated within the spirit of the law, or have gone contrary to the law.

  • I do not have personal “debt collectors” – Malami says

    I do not have personal “debt collectors” – Malami says

    The Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN, says the recovery agents engaged by his office are institutional recovery agents for the federal government.

    Dr Umar Gwandu, Special Assistant to the Minister on Media and Public Relations made the clarification in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

    “Malami in his personal capacity does not have any personal debt collectors for the recovery of federal government debts.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice does not engage recovery agents based on personal gratification or individual’s inclinations’’.

    He said that none of those engaged by the Federal Government in the recovery of assets and generation of revenues belonging to the government work for “Malami”, as mischievously portrayed in some media.

    “They belong to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the instrumentality of the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

    “Such engagements were purely based on the interest of the general public, as a guiding principle’’.

    The Minister reiterated that engagement of recovery agents was neither propelled by any ulterior motive nor any personal desire.

    Nor was it for any personal benefit accruing to anyone, but by an unflinching patriotic commitment to get back for the country the revenue that belongs to it.

    “It is the same Federal Government that engaged the Trobell in the recovery of the unpaid Federal Government revenue that asked the agency to step down based on stakeholders’ decision.

  • US court grants Nigeria access to key documents in $9 billion P&ID case

    US court grants Nigeria access to key documents in $9 billion P&ID case

    A US court has granted Nigeria access to key documents in the $9 billion case with Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID), which agreed to build a gas-processing plant in the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Judge Lorna Schofield, who presided over the sitting, granted Nigeria the access on Thursday, while noting that P&ID has an undisputed interest in subpoenaed information.

    Recall that Nigeria had through the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami filed an ex-parte application seeking to subpoena 10 different banks for “all documents concerning any transaction” relating to the P&ID case.

    The US District Court for the Southern District of New York granted Nigeria’s application to request from 10 US banks documents that may incriminate officials of P&ID.

    In the ex-parte application filed by Malami, Nigeria seeks subpoenas of 10 different banks for “all documents concerning any transaction,” dating back 11 years, involving 60 individuals and corporate entities to enable it substantiate allegations of crimes and financial impropriety.

    However, P&ID filed a response to the application as an interested person but did not oppose Nigeria’s application.

    P&ID only urged that, if the court grants the application, Nigeria should be required to promptly provide P&ID’s counsel with copies of all documents produced, and with the opportunity to attend all depositions conducted, pursuant to the subpoenas.

    The firm founded by two Irish men described Nigeria’s application as “a desperate attempt to substantiate her spurious allegations of a fraud supposedly ‘carried out’ by P&ID.”

    “If the court grants Nigeria’s application, the court should ensure P&ID’s access to any resulting discovery from the third-party subpoena recipients, consistent with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 45 and this court’s precedent.

    “If Nigeria serves the subpoenas, all discovery should be shared with P&ID. P&ID does not expect Nigeria’s discovery efforts to turn up evidence of fraud by P&ID – because there was no fraud – but P&ID wants to make sure that Nigeria does not mischaracterise any evidence obtained by, for example, selectively disclosing bank transfers in other court proceedings to try to make them appear suspicious,” P&ID stated in its response to the application.

    Meanwhile, reacting to the court’s decision, P&ID said, “We are pleased with the U.S. court’s decision to grant P&ID discovery as part of Nigeria’s 1782 application. Nigeria’s desperate plea to keep the results of its fishing expedition hidden was rejected by the U.S. court. As a result, AG Malami will not be able to selectively and misleadingly use this discovery in the English courts as part of its baseless fraud case to avoid paying P&ID.”

    It also said that by the ruling, the court had rejected Nigeria’s attempt to keep P&ID in the dark about the discovery it sought.

    Despite Nigeria’s submissions to the contrary, the court ordered Nigeria to give P&ID access to any documents it received and to any depositions conducted.

    The court noted, “P&ID has an undisputed interest in the subpoenaed information as applicant states that its investigations and criminal proceedings relate to P&ID, and the requested material relates to P&ID as well.”

    Nigeria was also ordered to meet and confer with the “interested parties as is necessary.”

    Nigeria and P&ID are locked in legal battles over a gas supply and process agreement entered with the Irish firm. A London commercial court had entered a $9.6 billion award against Nigeria.

    Nigeria is making frantic efforts to set aside the judgement and had launched criminal investigations against the company and its officials.

  • EFCC confirms moves to extradite Alison-Madueke

    EFCC confirms moves to extradite Alison-Madueke

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed that the process for extraditing former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Deziani Alison-Madueke from the United Kingdom has begun.

    Acting Spokesman of the commission, Mr Tony Orilade, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Abuja.

    There have been calls from different quotas for the extradition of the former minister over several allegations of impropriety against her.

    According to Orilade, EFCC’s Operations Department has made presentation to the Legal Department to commence the process, and that process has commenced.

    He, however, said that the action had to be processed through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, explaining that it was not something the commission would commence and conclude on its own.

    “It is ongoing. Within the next few weeks, the extent to which we have gone will be made known to the public.

    “It is not a fresh case; it is not a fresh petition that is just being looked into; the whole process is a total package.

    “This extradition is just an aspect of Deziani’s investigation and commencement of trial,” he said.

    In 2017, a Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the final forfeiture of N7.6 billion alleged loot recovered from the former minister to the Federal Government.

    Justice Abdulazeez Anka granted an application by the EFCC seeking the final forfeiture of the money to the government.

    Granting the application, the judge had said: “I have read the motion on notice seeking the final forfeiture of the sum of N7.6 billion reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.

    “I have also gone through the affidavit in support of the application.

    “In the circumstances, I am of the view that the application has merit and is hereby granted as prayed. Parties have a right of appeal.”

    In October 2017, the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, had said that Nigeria had no immediate plan to bring Allison-Madueke back home to face trial.

    Allison-Madueke, who is being investigated in the UK, had urged the Federal Government to bring her back to the country to face corruption charges against her.

    But, Malami said that bringing her back to the country would jeopardise the investigation being carried on her in the UK.

    “Steps have been taken by the United Kingdom authorities on issues bothering on corrupt practices involving Nigerians.

    “If Nigeria feels strongly that there is need to bring Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke here to face charges of corruption, government will not hesitate to do that.

    “As things stand now, there is no need for that since the UK Government is already investigating her,’’ he had said.

    The EFCC spokesman could not, however, say the point at which it became necessary to seek extradition of the former minister.