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| Abacha |
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA— Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of
Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), yesterday, said Nigeria was yet to receive about
€175 million starched in a foreign account by late military dictator, General
Sani Abacha.
Adoke, who spoke at the 2013 ministerial press briefing held
in Abuja, yesterday, to highlight the mid-term achievements of President
Goodluck Jonathan’s administration as it pertains to the Ministry of Justice,
said Federal Government had intensified its efforts to trace and repatriate Nigeria’s
stolen assets abroad.
He said: “In this connection, we have maintained effective
liaison and communication with targeted jurisdictions to keep pace with asset
recovery proceedings in those jurisdictions.
Recovered monies
“In 2011, our close liaison and negotiation with the Island
of Jersey led to the recovery and repatriation of £22.5 million confiscated by
the Royal Court of Jersey from Raj Arjandes Bhojwani, an Indian national and
associate of General Sani Abacha, on account of his money laundering
transactions from Nigeria.
Late Sani Abacha
“We continued the liaison and negotiations with the
Principality of Liechtenstein, which recently confiscated EUR 175 million from
the Abacha family and associated companies in Liechtenstein following a confiscation
order by the Supreme Court of Liechtenstein.
“However, the companies involved have lodged an appeal
against the decision before the European Court of Justice in Strasburg.
“As soon as the appeal is concluded, firm arrangements
consistent with the asset recovery provisions of the United Nations Convention
against corruption, would be made to repatriate the forfeited sums to Nigeria.”
Meantime, Adoke disclosed that the Ministry of Justice,
within the year under review, received 60 petitions bordering on breach of
rights of citizens, lack of action on criminal matters by the law enforcement
agencies.
Why FG can’t pardon Al-Mustapha
He also gave reasons why Federal Government cannot pardon
the former Chief Security Officer to late General Abacha, Major Hamza
Al-Mustapha.
It will be recalled that a Lagos High Court had sentenced
Al-Mustapha, who is currently in prison custody, to death by hanging after he
was found guilty in the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, wife of late business
mogul and presumed winner of the June 12 presidential election, Bashorun M.K.O
Abiola.
Adoke, who noted that Al-Mustapha was tried and convicted
under the Lagos State law, insisted that Federal Government lacked the powers
to delve into the case as such action would tantamount to subjudice.
He said: “The case has gone to the Court of Appeal. It is
not within the authority of the office of the Attorney-General of the
Federation, as it stands today. Even commenting on it will amount to subjudice.
Justice is taking its course.”
While acknowledging that Nigeria is presently a part of the
global debate on death sentence, Adoke said there was nothing the government
could do to stop the execution of those currently on the waiting list of the
hangman.
He said most of the offences that attract death penalty fall
under laws within the jurisdiction of states.
He maintained that in view of the fact that Nigeria is a country
under the principle of federalism, there is nothing the Federal Government can
do, pending the review of some of the extant laws, adding, “we hope the laws
will be reviewed.”
On Bakassi
Besides, the AGF further explained reason why the Federal Government
refused to appeal the International Court of Justice, ICJ, judgment that had in
2001 ceded the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula in Cross Rivers State to the Republic
of Cameroon.
He said the government was unable to lay its hands to fresh
and credible facts to warrant an appeal of the controversial verdict.
He said: “There was no fresh fact which Nigeria could have
relied upon to apply for a review of that judgment. Moreover, such action would
have created animosity between Nigeria and Cameroon.”
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