ABUJA (Min of Justice Report) – The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF) Abubakar Malami, SAN, has called on the Committee Members of the House of Representatives on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, to approve 2.5% for the Ministry as requisite commission from recoveries arising from stolen assets stashed abroad.
Malami made the call during the budget defence before the Committee at the House of Assembly Complex, Abuja, on Thursday 4th April, 2019.
He also presented the 2019 budget proposal of the sum of seven billion, four hundred and thirty-one million, two hundred and eighty-eighty thousand-two hundred and thirty-two naira (N7,431,288,232) only, before the Committee which he said would cover a broad spectrum of expenditure items, ranging from personnel cost, overhead, legal services and capital for 2019 fiscal year.
The Minister averred that the rule of law is the major pillar of democratic enterprise as well as an economic enabler. The quest for economic resurgence and industrialisation can only be spurred by unhindered administration of justice, equity and fair play.
He further explained that Nigeria is obligated to several International Protocols, Treaties and Conventions which most times, funding them are tasking, and there is the need to reverse the trend if the country is to live up to its purpose.
Malami emphasized that in 2017, the sum of Ten Billion Naira (10,000,000,000.00) was released for payment of judgement debt as appropriated and in 2018 there was no appropriation in this regard, judgement debt kept mounting and beneficiaries of these debts were getting agitated.
The Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Dayo Apata, Esq, in response to the Committee, explained that the money mapped out for monitoring and evaluation would enable the Ministry carry out periodic checks in the nine Zonal Offices across the country so as to ensure that the policy are being taken care of in the proper perspective.
While responding to the judgement debt, one of the Committee members, Honourable Ayorinde Olabode noted the importance of the Ministry of Justice and advised the AGF to forward the complaints to the Ministry of Budget so as to include a certain amount as part of the budget proposal.
He also commended
FMOJ for generating over 32 million naira far above other revenue generating
Agencies.
