FG assures speedy prosecution of criminal and civil cases; reveals more Abacha loots are being recovered

[The InfoStrides]

The Minister of Justice and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adokiye, SAN, had assured Nigerians of speedy prosecution of crimes and defence of civil cases in line with his Ministry's mandate to provide sound legal frame work, advice and efficient service delivery in order to facilitate the attainment of government's objectives.

He made this known while presenting his mid-term report at the on-going Ministerial Platform, at the National Press Centre, Radio House, Abuja.

According to the Minister, "A total of Seventy five cases of terrorism and Boko Haram insurgency were receive and prosecuted."  Sixteen of the cases have been concluded with eight convictions, while thirty five were struck out.

He further stated that his Ministry was able to save Government the sum of Five Hundred and One Billion, Two Hundred and Seventy Eight Million, Seven Hundred Sixty Five Thousand, Seven Hundred and Seventy Naira (N501, 278, 765, 770) in a suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/03/11 incorporated Trustees of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore socio-cultural Association versus Federal Government of Nigeria.

Similarly, in registered Trutees of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability project (SERAP) (suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/08/09), the Ministry was also able to save the Government the sum of US$1billion (N158, 000,000, 000) that would have been paid as damages.

In addition, the Minister stressed that because of his Ministry's close liaison and negotiation with the Island of Jersey, UK E22.5 million confiscated by the Royal Court of Jersey from Raj Arjandes Bhojwani, an Indian national and associate of General Sani Abacha has been recovered and repatriated to Nigeria.

The Minister said, "That the weakness identified in the Terrorism Prohibition Act of 2011 and the money laundering Act of 2011 necessitated further amendment which ultimately give rise to the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011 as amended and Money Laundering Act of 2013.  This, according to the Minister, has led to an appropriate legal frame work for the war against terror consistent with global standards put in place.

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