Skip to main content

Politicians Fret as Nigeria, UK Sign MoU on Return of Stolen Assets 


The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the British Government on the modalities for the return of Nigerian stolen assets.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, signed on behalf of the Federal Government in Abuja on Tuesday.
Malami said that the MoU reflected the desire and willingness of both countries to continue cooperation and mutual support.
Malami said that this was in the responsible and transparent return of all recovered assets.
He outlined the objectives of the MoU to include the fact that the processes of returning stolen assets was a partnership recognising the interest of both countries and based on mutual understanding, confidence and trust.
“That both countries recognised that they have a mutual interest in ensuring that returned assets are not at risk of being misappropriated again.
“And that both countries recognised they have obligations toward their own citizens for providing such assurances.
“That both countries recognised the importance of ensuring that the highest possible standard of transparency and accountability are applied for the return of assets.”
He gave the assurance to the international community that all funds recovered would be judiciously utilised for projects that would benefit the poorest segment of the Nigerian society.
Earlier, leader of the UK delegation, British Minister of State for Immigration, Robert Goodwill, said that the MoU provided the mechanism by which monies could be returned.
Goodwill, who is also a member of the British Parliament, noted that there was no safe place for stolen assets in the UK.
“Our ability to recover and return stolen assets should send a clear message to all who may seek to habour such assets that there is no safe haven in the U.K,” he said.
According to him, the British government is committed to the return of all funds looted from the Nigerian State.
“We are keen to do this as soon as the necessary legal process allow.
“As outlined at the summit, we will be taking steps to accelerate the procedures for identification and confiscation of illegally acquired assets.”
He said that they were as committed as Nigeria in ensuring that beneficial ownership of assets was made available to relevant authorities so they know who the real owners of assets held in the UK are.
“Forty jurisdictions, including British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies announced that they will automatically share beneficial ownership information relating to companies, trusts, foundations, Shell companies and other relevant entities and legal arrangements.
“It is important that everyone can see how returned assets are used to benefit Nigerians. We have therefore agreed in this MoU to be fully transparent about this.”
The signing of the MoU is a follow up to the agreement reached at the London anti-corruption summit in May.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

ONE LITTLE GIRL: an interesting story of a shoe Addict

 I find Imelda Marcos story very interesting. Thought of sharing. Enjoy ONE LITTLE GIRL  Once upon a time there was a little girl. She was a beautiful little girl, everyone agreed. She had dark hair, pale skin and almond eyes. And she sang like an angel. Everyone agreed on that too. Until she was 10 our little girl lived in the big city. It was a sprawling, bustling, filthy place. She lived in a hovel. Well, it wasn’t so much a hovel as a rundown garage. And, when the wind blew at night, the doors and shutters creaked and banged and she was very afraid. And every year when the fierce monsoon rains wreaked their vengeance on the earth the floor of the garage flooded and the little girl’s bare feet were cold and wet. One night in a fearsome storm our little girls’ mummy died – “of pneumonia”, they said, but our little girl didn’t understand. And so she and her widowed father and her five brothers and sisters left the garage in the big city and went to live on a tropical ...

HOW TO GET 100 SUBSCRIBERS ON YOUTUBE

Hi Lovelies, My video on how to get 100 SUBSCRIBERS on YouTube is out and ready. In the video, I showed every process I did (WITH SCREEN RECORDING TUTORIALS) to gain subscribers. I talked about the app I used. The exact pages  I went to attract subscribers etc. Watch here šŸ‘‡  Road to 100 SUBSCRIBERS I wish you MASSIVE GROWTH IN YOUR CHANNEL. Cheers šŸ„‚

NBTE Fires 13 Lecturers, Demotes 16 Others at Auchi Polytechnic over Sex-for-Marks Scandals

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) on Thursday announced the dismissal of five lecturers and the termination of appointments of eight others in Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi. The dismissal and termination of appointments are in connection with sexual-related offences. The Executive Secretary of the board, Dr Masa’udu Kazaure, who made this known at a news conference in Kaduna, said 16 other lecturers were demoted, while four others were warned. He also said two others were advised, another two cautioned, while one lecturer would be mentored. He said the development was the outcome of an investigation following a publication by The Punch newspaper of April 9, 2016 with the title: `School Where Prostitutes Assist Male Students to Get Marks’. He said: “The summery of the publication indicated that students hire prostitutes or beg their girl friends to sleep with lecturers on their behalf in order to earn higher grades in their courses. “The lecturer chooses a hotel ...