The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, disclosed on Thursday that the Federal Government had profiled 3,000 terrorism cases during an eight-year period, leading to 1500 charges and 397 convictions.
The Federal Ministry of Justice and other pertinent security and law enforcement organisations were credited by the AGF for their concerted efforts, which led to success.
He explained that the ministry had built a framework for Joint Investigation and Collaboration to enable the successful prosecution of terrorism cases.
A “strong link” between the AGF’s office and law enforcement agencies has been established “for synergy and good working relationship in the area of arrest, investigations, and Case Management,” the AGF said.
Malami revealed that 7,000 instances involving crimes as diverse as maritime piracy, armed robbery, vandalism of electrical equipment and pipelines, financial concerns, cyber crime, kidnapping, and anti-corruption have been successfully prosecuted since 2015.
He said his ministry has made plans with the Federal High Court, the Legal Aid Council, and the Defense Headquarters to organise the next phase of trials involving terrorism.
“In this regard, the Ministry is currently remodelling structures at the Wawa Cantonment, Kainji to accommodate eight (8) courtrooms, Judges’ Chambers, living accommodations, Lawyers’ dressing rooms and conveniences to make them conducive for Judges, Witnesses as well as Defendants”.
Forfeited properties sold during the period under review brought in a total of N1,823,788,146.86, according to the AGF; therefore, the federal government was able to meet its budgetary needs.
He stated that the ministry has, per presidential instructions and foreign court processes, recovered a total of £6,324,627.66, €5,494,743.71, and $390,000,000 from various jurisdictions.
Some of the recouped cash is used toward vital infrastructure projects, including the Abuja-Kano Expressway, the Second Niger Bridge, and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
“Due to the concerted effort by my office in conjunction with relevant Stakeholders, including the legislature, the President recently assented to the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act 2022 (POCA) on May 12 2022.
“I wish to state that POCA is the first legislation in Nigeria that comprehensively provides mechanisms, processes and procedures for the tracing, restraint, seizure, confiscation, forfeiture and management of properties derived from unlawful activities.
“Its main objective is to take out the profits that incentivise and fund crime, with the ultimate aim of disrupting the cycle of crime and preventing future offences and corrupt practises.
“Using a combination of effective defence strategies to cases, including arbitration and mediation, as well as prosecution of appeals, the Ministry has succeeded in saving the country from huge avoidable debt liabilities”, the AGF asserted.
There are allegedly 648 pending cases against President Buhari, the Federal Government, and its agencies in state, federal, and ECOWAS courts.
“Diligent defences of these cases in 2022 alone saved the government from huge judgement debt liabilities to N142,458,343,888.52.
“These cases were handled by in-house State Counsel in the Ministry, and thus saved the Country from further liabilities that would have accrued from payment of external solicitors’ fees”.
“The Ministry is also coordinating the defence of several international arbitration proceedings commenced against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other FGN Agencies. These include arbitration initiated by Sunrise Power over the Mambilla Power Project and Eni and Shell over operational rights.
“We have also made appreciable progress in the actions being taken to challenge the arbitral award in the case of Process & Industrial Development. The hearing of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s application to set aside the arbitral award will commence before the English Court shortly.
“It is important to stress that the efforts by the Ministry in defending these international cases have so far enabled Nigeria to avoid liabilities running into Billions of US Dollars”.
Additionally, the AGF stated that his office had obtained presidential permission in April 2018 for the Department of State Service, DSS, to pay the sum of N135million as compensation to the relatives of victims of the September 20, 2013 death of the Apo Six by security agents.
“The payment was in compliance with the award/order made by the National Human Rights Commission on April 7 2014 upon conclusion of the investigation and public hearing in the case”.
“In conclusion, I wish to state that the Ministry has relentlessly been contributing its quota to the running of government and fulfilling the promises of delivering good governance based on the Rule of Law and sound Democratic values in accordance with best practise”, Malami noted.