The sum of about $200million will soon be recovered by the Federal government Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of has said.
Malami made the revelation while speaking at the 2021 annual public lecture organized by the Centre for Media and Peace Initiative, New York, United States of America.
He said that the recoveries the about $200million subject to the settlement of litigations of which the Ministry of Justice is attending.
He also said that President Buhari’s approach to fight against corruption has been one of three cardinal pillars of our campaign promises, the others are economic and security development.
Malami said: “Various steps have been taken in terms of legislative frameworks, establishment of institutions and policy measures targeted at combatting corruption, regional corporation and ensuring good governance for the benefit of citizens.
“In 2017, the signing of a trilateral Agreement with Switzerland and World Bank enabled the recovery of $322.515million.
“In 2020 a total sum of $311.7million was returned to Nigeria after signing another trilateral agreement with the U.S.A and Bailiwick of Jersey.
“Also in the year 2020, 5.4million Euros was recovered in March emanating from an agreement signed with Northern Island. The Federal Government was able to recover from UK the sum of €4,214,017.66 connected to the family of James Ibori.
“Additional recoveries to the tune of $200million are being anticipated subject to the settlement of litigations of which the Ministry of Justice is attending to at present..”
Malami added: “I am pleased to inform this gathering that the Federal Government of Nigeria has recovered funds from corporate bodies and individuals through the combined efforts of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and our law enforcement agencies through local and international collaboration with international community and adoption of strategies put in place.
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“Currently, high profile personalities including judicial officers and former governors indicted for corruption have been or are being prosecuted. We have some former top government officials convicted and serving various jail terms for corruption related crimes while in office,” the AGF added.
