Money laundering: 22 former governors, serving senators under probe - AGF
- AGF Malami has released names of ex-governors and serving senators under probe for money laundering
- Malami said on Thursday, December 19, that 22 former governors are under probe for corruption
- The minister, however, said that the FG has created central database for recovered loots
Abubakar Malami, the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, has given a stunning revelation about the successes recorded in the fight against corruption by President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
Vanguard reports that the minister said on Thursday, December 19, that a total of 22 former governors are currently being investigated on money laundering related charges.
Legit.ng gathered that Malami described President Buhari’s fight against corruption as total, comprehensive and dispassionate devoid of any political or ethnic sentiments or inclination.
He also revealed that many serving senators were under FG’s investigative radar.
Malami spoke during a media parley he held with the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC), at the federal ministry of justice headquarters in Abuja.
He stressed that corruption undermines the security of any nation, generates huge economic damage and violates human development.
Source: UGC
The minister said the president would leave no stone unturned to recover wealth stolen from Nigeria either by individuals or corporate entities.
He noted that three former governors have already been convicted and are currently serving various jail terms for corruption-related crimes they committed while in office, adding that the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), had between 2015 and 2019, secured the conviction of 1, 636 persons involved in corruption-related offences.
Malami said: “I am delighted to host judiciary correspondents as part of the end of the year briefing on the monumental activities and historic achievements of the ministry and its parastatals. Occasions like this one serve as avenues for introspection and unveiling action plans, future projects and strategic initiatives for consolidating the ministry’s drive-in justice sector enhancement for the forthcoming year and beyond.
“Members of the judiciary correspondents have been contributing tremendously in their reportage of the activities of the ministry and its parastatals. You report to the general public the enviable contributions of the teaming members of the Ministry that culminated into landslide accomplishments.
Malami further stated that the present administration has been fighting corruption in all its ramified manifestations including legislative framework, institutional infrastructure and the adoption of effective preventive measures against corruption and putting in place mechanisms for the management of recovered stolen assets.
“To this end, we have created a central database for recovered stolen assets which is under the supervision of the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice.
"The government made concerted efforts that see to the boosting of the institutions and agencies responsible for the fight against corruption; ministry of justice, Independent Corrupt and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Code of Conduct Bureau, among others,” he said.
He added that Nigeria has taken anti-corruption measures in tackling cybercrime, money laundering, oil bunkering and false assets declaration among others in pursuance to the code of conduct act, adding that public officers are expected to declare their assets immediately upon assumptions of office.
“We have also developed the National Anti-Corruption Strategy and a guideline for smooth implementation of the strategy which five (5) pillars include: Prevention of corruption, public engagement, ethical re-orientation, enforcement and sanction, and recovery and management of proceeds of crime.
“The government has improved the economic fortune of the country through institutional support and legislative framework. The financial bill, deep offshore profit sharing contract act among others count among steps in that direction,” Malami said.
Speaking on the international front, he said Nigerian government is collaborating with various jurisdictions to recover and repatriate funds that have been stolen and stashed outside Nigeria.
He noted: “The government is not relenting in the pursuit of Nigeria’s stolen wealth. The recovery efforts are ongoing and work is in progress. Our fight against corruption is total, comprehensive and dispassionate devoid of any political or ethnic sentiments or inclination.
“One of the multiple institutions involved in the fight against corruption, the EFCC, was able to, from 2015 to September 2019 convict 1,636 persons involved in corruption-related offences.
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported a former attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Mohammed Adoke, returned to the country on the instance of the EFCC.
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Presidency, Nigerians give their thoughts on the fight against corruption| - on Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
