The Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (HAGF) Abubakar Malami SAN, has called on the Honourable Committee members of the House of Representatives on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, to approve 2.5 per cent for the Ministry as requisite commission from recoveries arising from stolen assets stashed abroad.
He made the call during the Budget Defence before the Committee Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters at the House of Assembly Complex in Abuja, recently.
‘’we are proposing that 2.5% should be earmarked as requisite commission from recoveries arising from stolen assets stashed abroad. Most times, we have had to use our lean resources to fund these recoveries without requisite commission. I would like to affirm that so far, all recoveries of stolen assets were promptly deposited at Federal Government Treasury.’’ he said.
The HAGF 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.
Making reference to the 2018 budget proposals, he explained that the Ministry kept faith with all the expenditure items as appropriated with vehemence, and promised to do even more so in 2019 if the Committee grants the request.
While still speaking, he said 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.
‘’The challenge of bridging funding gaps keeps resonating in our operations. This is as dangerous as it is disturbing because you cannot compromise the rule of law in whatever guise because of funding inadequacy’ ’he emphasized.
The Minister 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 purposes.
He stated that in 2017, the sum of Ten Billion Naira (10,000,000,000.00) only was released for payments of Judgement debt as appropriated and in 2018 there was no appropriation in this regard, and Judgement debt keep mounting and beneficiaries of these debt are getting agitated.
The Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Dayo Apata, Esq, in his 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.
Speaking on Judgment debt, one of the Committee members, Honourable Ayorinde Olabode noted the importance of the Ministry of Justice and advised the HAGF to forward the complaints to the Ministry of Budget so as to include a certain amount, like ten billion naira for instance to be part of the budget proposal.
He said that ‘’the rule of law will not be complete if there is judgment of court not to be by the ministry, what is the rule of law then? So if there is a judgment of court and the ministry has no money to carry out the judgment then the rule of law is not complete. So, I will think that if this budget before us is completed the ministry should work with budget office and something specific should be provided in the budget, rather than asking the committee to take them from you, otherwise it will amount to budget padding and we will not like to be accused of padding budget again’’.
He also commended FMOJ for generating over 32 million naira far above other revenue generating Agencies.
The Honourable member representing Aniocha –Oshimili Federal Constituency Delta-State, Onyemaechi Mrakpor advised that budget proposal should be self-explanatory especially when it comes under monitoring and evaluation.
Ogochukwu Igboamalu
Deputy Director (Information)
