ABUJA (AGF’s Office Report)- As part of concerted efforts of the present administration’s fight against corruption, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has inaugurated a Country Expert Review Committee for the second cycle of the review of implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).
The Minister performed the inauguration of the Inter Agency task Team for the second cycle of the review of the implementation of the United Nations convention Against Corruption in his office on Tuesday October 11, 2016.
Malami said that part of objectives of United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) is in absolute synergy and harmony with one of the cardinal objectives of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to fight corruption at all fronts including adopting effective preventive measures against corruption, recovery of stolen assets and putting in place systems and processes to profitably manage the stolen but recovered assets.
The Minister further said that Nigeria is a state –party to UNCAC which was the first global legally binding international anti-corruption instrument. He emphasized that, “It is thus necessary that members of this committee understands the important task of Nation- building which is about to be committed into their hands.” “Your contributions will no doubt translate into massive political goodwill and will snowball into successes in pace setting as it relates to the fight against corruption.” he added.
He explained that the extant review focusing on Chapters II and V of UNCAC in relation to preventive measures against corruption in public and private sectors and Asset Recovery, was necessary and timely at the time where endemic and systemic corruption had created huge disconnect between the Nations wealth and the quality of life of ordinary citizens.
He disclosed that the review is an inter-governmental process for the state parties to carry out their obligations under the convention in a manner consistent with the principle of sovereignty, equality and territorial integrity of state and non-interference in the domestic affairs of other states. He urged the expert team to “note that your performance in this assignment will be a step in the direction for us as a Country and people to achieve the goals that we have set for ourselves i.e., prevent corruption, recover, return and manage stolen assets.”
Earlier, the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Taiwo Abidogun, ably represented at the inauguration ceremony by Director Legal Drafting in the Ministry, Tahir Hamzat, assured the committee of his support if called upon, “Be assured of my cooperation and willingness when called upon on how you can achieve the objectives of the committee viz-a-viz the spirit of this present administration’s resolve in the fight against corruption”.
The twenty two man inter agency Task team were selected from the MDAs as follows: Bureau for public Service Reforms (BPSR),Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),Code of Conduct Bureau(CCB), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC),Economic and Financial Crimes commission(EFCC),Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS),Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF), Federal Ministry of Justice(FMOJ), Fiscal Responsibility Commission(FRC),others are ,Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences commission(ICPC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs(MFA), National Agency fir the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons & Other Related Matters(NAPTIP), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA), Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency initiative(NEITI), Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit(NFIU), National Human Rights Commission(NHRC), The Nigeria Police Force(NPF), Office of the Auditor General for the Federation(OAGF), and also, Public Complaints Commission(PCC), Special Control Unit against Money Laundering(SCUML), Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms(TUGAR).
Other dignitaries that witnessed the inauguration ceremony were Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, his ICPC, CCB counterparts, Chief Ekpo Nta and Sam Saba.
