TUE, AUG 11 2020-theG&BJournal-The Federal government said today that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Ireland for the return of $6.3 million (equivalent of 5.49 million Euros) allegedly stolen by late Head of State, General Sanni Abacha.
The MoU was signed after both countries reached an agreement today at the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) in Abuja.
In his brief remarks after signing the MOU on behalf of Nigeria Government, the AGF, Abubakar Malami, SAN said, the Federal Republic of Nigeria through its legal representatives went to court to assert its right over the Abacha stolen funds sized in Ireland by the High Court of Ireland in 2015.
“On 10th December, 2019, the FG sought for an order pursuant to section 3(3) of the 1996 act to discharge or vary the order of 16th March, 2015. Following the hearing of the argument from the Federal Government and Government of Ireland, the high court on 15th June, 2020 in the exercise of his function, ordered that the stolen assets recovered from the Abacha family should be transferred to the Federal Government of Nigeria for the benefit of Nigerians subject to the execution of a MoU between the two Governments” explains Malami who expressed delight on the deal.
Malami said, “this has demonstrated that International cooperation and mutual trust can lead to great benefit for citizens in developing countries, where more than half of the population still live below poverty line.”
Malami noted that the Federal Ministry of Justice has obtained presidential approval to sign the MoU on behalf of the Government of Nigeria. ‘’Therefore, today, I have the privilege to sign this MoU on behalf of FG.’’
He said the Minister of Justice and equality, Ms Helen McEntee, TD is also signing the counterpart MOU in Ireland”.
The Minister said that the most salient aspect of the MoU is that, the stolen fund that is now being returned to Nigeria will be applied to infrastructure projects under the supervision of the Nigeria Social Investment Authority (NSIA) to ensure the completion of on-going work of the 2nd Niger Bridge, Abuja –Kano Express Way and the Lagos-Ibadan road, adding that these projects will benefit millions of Nigerians.
The Minister assured that the implementation of the MoU will be monitored by the identified Civil Society Organisations (CSO) to be recruited under the project and would also be audited by an independent auditor in line with best practices.
|twitter:@theGBJournal|email: info@govandbusinessjournal.com.ng|
