Fagbemi: FG Committed to Recovery, Repatriation of Nigeria’s Stolen Wealth

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr.  Lateef Fagemi (SAN) yesterday disclose that the federal government was seriously committed to the recovery and repatriation of Nigeria’s stolen wealth.
To this end, Fagbemi said that the  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was expected to continue to lead the charge to trace, recover and facilitate the return of the stolen monies.

He also said that the war against corruption will be fought within the ambit of the laws of the country.
 Fagbemi stated this in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital yesterday during the official opening of the Ilorin zonal office of the EFCC.
The event  was also attended by the executive chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, the state governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, Justices of the High Court of Ilorin,  among others.

  “Let me state in unequivocal terms that the EFCC is pivotal to the president’s plan to remove impediments to accountability in governance, institutions and fighting mechanisms and platforms by which Nigeria can hold public officers to account.
“To this end, the government is poised to support the commission in whatever way possible to deliver on its mandate,” he added.
Fagbemi urged state other the tiers of governments in the country to  join the federal government in its fight against corruption.
“I use this medium to call on the constituent states of the federation, legislative and judicial arms of the government to key into the fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.

“Corruption cannot be effectively tackled without the buy-in of the citizens. I therefore urge the new leadership of the EFCC to strengthen public education and awareness with a view to mobilising all Nigerians to embrace the anti-corruption fight,” Fagbemi said.
The law officer admonished personnel of the EFCC to conduct their affairs within the ambit of the law.
“I hope all the personnel will appreciate the fact that corruption is best fought within the ambit of the law. I remind the commission to conduct its affairs strictly in accordance with the rule of law,” he said.

He assured the country’s development partners that Nigeria will continue to comply with its international obligation and do all that will be necessary to sustain and win the fight against corruption as wells as economic and financial crimes commission.
“Plans are underway to improve investments in technology that are necessary to automate vital aspects of the operation of our law enforcement agencies,” he pointed out.

Earlier, Executive Chairman of EFCC,  Olukoyede said the commission would not relent in its war against illegal miners in the country.
He said: “As you are aware, the Ilorin zonal command occupies a strategic place in the financial crimes enforcement blueprint of the EFCC.
“Along with the Abuja command, it is responsible for enforcement activities in most of the North Central region, with huge deposits of solid mineral resources which exploitation has lately attracted bands of criminals like bees to honey.

“The burgeoning criminal activities is a matter of concern and many of us are aware of the breakthroughs which the Ilorin command has recorded in this area through the arrest and prosecution of illegal miners in the state and beyond.
 “I expect to see more vigorous enforcement of the law against illegal miners to ensure the actualisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Bola Tinubu administration in the solid minerals sector.

“It bears reiterating that we must be unsparing in our efforts to sanitise the business environment and support our country’s drive to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by tackling frauds of all hue. There will be no excuses for non-performance.”
 AbdulRazaq  in his remarks, said  his administration was imbibing  the  culture of prudent management of resources into public servants and political office holders under his administration .

The governor  said that his administration recently organised a three-day intensive training on compliance with anti-corruption policies and financial regulatory frameworks to keep commissioners, permanent secretaries, and other top government officials abreast of key issues in public financial management, sustainability reporting, tax frauds, among others.