Dennis Erezi
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has disclosed that within the first year of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led administration, it had established a robust framework for Joint Investigation and Collaboration with various law enforcement agencies.
This initiative, he said resulted in 160 criminal convictions over the past year, including 87 convictions for terrorism-related offenses.
The Ministry’s efforts, the AGF said, have led to notable improvements in access to justice, criminal prosecution, and anti-corruption measures.
According to him one of the most significant achievements was groundbreaking convictions against extremist actors involved in the radicalization of children and violence against women.
Fagbemi attributed these successes to enhanced interagency synergy, facilitating the prosecution of maritime, electricity, and cybercrime cases.
He said the Ministry’s focus on international cooperation on terrorism financing also yielded 13 convictions for terrorism financing and the conclusion of 150 Mutual Legal Assistance requests, and the processing of 12 extradition requests.
In the realm of anti-corruption, the Ministry said it has extended the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) to 2026. The NACS was first adopted by the Federal executive council July 2017 spanning 2017 to 2021.
This initiative, the ministery said, emphasizes transparency and accountability through Freedom of Information and beneficial ownership disclosures. Among the significant recoveries were £2.1 million from Jersey, designated for the Abuja-Kano road project, and a $50 million settlement with Glencore International A.G.
The Minister said this demonstrated the ministry ‘s commitment and prowess in through litigation to successfully defend Nigeria in international arbitration cases, notably against Process and Industrial Development Limited (P&ID).
“This effort saved Nigeria from a potential $11 billion liability, with the Ministry securing £20 million in interim costs.”
Other notable achievements he said included drafting a National Policy on Arbitration to promote Nigeria as an arbitration hub, and significant infrastructural and curricular enhancements at the Nigerian Law School.
Fagbemi said the parastatals under the Ministry also made significant contributions.
He said the Legal Aid Council handled over 5,000 cases for indigent Nigerians, while the National Human Rights Commission addressed over 2.8 million human rights complaints; The Nigerian Copyright Commission generated over N5 billion in revenue, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) made substantial drug seizures and arrests.
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According to the minister, NDLEA also seized 959,917.30 kg of illicit drugs and arrested 13,798 suspects. He added that the agency also secured 3,247 convictions and counseled 7,586 individuals while 1,337 were rehabilitated.
The AGF disclosed this on Friday at ministerial sectorial update organized by the federal ministry of information and orientation in Abuja.
