Governance

FG Confirms Return of Over $110 Million Assets from Various Countries

By Web News 327

By Tanimu Salihu

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi has confirmed the return of over 110 million dollars in assets recovered from various countries.

Prince Fagbemi made this known during a budget defence session with the House of Representatives Committee on Justice.

The minister explained that the ministry has developed a template for most of the agreements and sharing it with some of the state governments in order to help them review contracts.

While speaking on the judgment obtained against the government, Prince Fagbemi recalled that in the “popular case of P&ID”, there were so many issues involved including engaging lawyers that were not up to the task. 

Mr Fagbemi pointed out that state governments are at liberty to engage in foreign transactions, however, he noted that the sub-national governments are not recognized in case there is arbitration, stressing that it is the national government that takes such responsibilities.

The chairman of the House Committee on Justice, Olumide Osoba, who expressed displeasure about the failure of the minister to give a breakdown of the fund including the 52.88 million dollars recovered assets linked to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, also frowned at the failure of the ministry to provide details on the utilisation of the 4.7 billion naira reportedly spent on legal services.

The committee also accused the ministry of usurping the powers of the parliament for re-appropriating the approved funds for the 2024 fiscal year for other purposes not approved by it without due process.

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Health

First Lady Urges State Govts to Fight Substance Abuse

By Web News 401

By Yosi Ardel (Abuja)

The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has urged state governments to prioritize the fight against substance abuse in their strategic work plans for a safe and secure society.

Mrs Tinubu stated this at the opening ceremony of a two-day drug prevention, treatment, and care training organized by the NDLEA for the spouses of state governors in Abuja.

Mrs Tinubu, who was represented by the wife of the Inspector General of Police, Mrs Elizabeth Egbetokun commended the NDLEA and the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum for their initiative, calling on state governments to collectively combat the menace of drug abuse.

On his part, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, described the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum as a valuable platform to extend the drug war to the grassroots.

Retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, the NDLEA Chairman, emphasized the need for collective efforts to tackle the menace of drug abuse due to the negative effects on public health, the environment, and the prevailing insecurity across the country.

He urged the governors’ wives to leverage their positions to mobilize support for drug prevention and treatment in their respective states.

Prof Tahir Mamman, the Minister of Education, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Didi Walson-Jack, reiterated the Ministry of Education and NDLEA collaboration to combat substance abuse among students.

The Chairman of the Governor’s Spouses Forum and wife of the Governor of Kwara State, Olufokake Abdulrazaq, assured collaboration with relevant stakeholders to spearhead the fight against harmful substances, especially among the youth.

Dr Oliver Stolpe, Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime; Letizia Torretta, Representative of the European Union; and Dr Gambo Aliyu, Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), all emphasized the need for collective and collaborative efforts to curb the menace of drug abuse.

Edited by Titilayo Kupoliyi

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