Federal Ministry of Justice
ANTI-CORRUPTION WAR: FG RECOVERS N57.9 BILLION, $666.676 MILLION
The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,
Abubakar Malami, SAN has revealed that the Federal Ministry of Justice in line
with the anti-corruption war, had recovered the whopping sum of 57.9 billion
naira as well as $666.676 US dollars. The Minister made this revelation in
Abuja, while defending the ministry’s 2017 Appropriation bill before the Senate
Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters at the National
Assembly Complex on Thursday, 23rd February, 2017.
Giving highlights on how the recoveries were made Malami said, “N50Billion
was the fine paid by MTN company while N7 billion and $10 Million US Dollar
was recovered from private residence, N40Million and N50Million were
voluntarily returned. $250 Million under interim forfeiture was alleged
proceeds of oil bunkering and also $136.676 Million awaiting actual remittance
and $270 Million was FGN fund recovered from commercial bank .’’
The Minister who pointed to the fact that his ministry operated through 2016
without capital budget said “our budgetary proposal of N18, 528,093,480.00
was not appropriated thereby compelling the Ministry to operate on a zero
capital budget”. In spite of all the odds, the AGF expressed joy for the
uncommon achievements recorded by the Ministry as a result of the recoveries
made which culminated to increased revenue of the Federal government. “I am
happy to state however, that we as a Ministry recorded modest achievements
in the act of contributing to the revenue generation of the Federal Government
notwithstanding the zero capital budgets.”
The budget frame being defended by the AGF depicts that the ministry
budgetary allocation received a boost as against 2016 appropriation. In line
with the budget document, the total sum of N6,914,774,768.00(Six billion, nine
hundred and fourteen million, seven hundred and seventy four thousand seven
hundred and sixty eight naira) only was earmarked for the ministry in the 2017
budget appropriation as against N3, 921,612,815(Three billion, nine hundred
and twenty one million, six hundred and twelve thousand, eight hundred and
fifteen naira). From the N6,914,774,768.00 ,personnel cost would engulf the
largest chunk of N4,278,824,404.00.Legal services a whooping amount of
N1,000,006,899.00 followed by overhead N946,834,670.00and the least capital
budget of N689,108,794.00.
The minister explained that the personnel cost, covers the allowances of
Nigerian Lawyers providing legal services within the sub region and also reflects
the harmonization of the salaries of State Counsel in the Ministry. “the
personnel cost of N4,278,824,404.00 (Four billion, two hundred and seventy
eight million, eight hundred and twenty four thousand, four hundred and four
naira) includes the allowances for the Ministry Lawyers serving in the Gambia
and reflects the harmonization of the salaries of the State Counsel in the
Ministry as approved by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in
2016, after over twenty years of agitation by state counsels in the Ministry.”
He also explained that the legal services subhead caters for the core mandate
of the Ministry including payment of legal fees to external solicitors engaged by
the Ministry. “This sub head has been allocated the sum of
N1,000,006,898.00(one billion, six thousand, eight hundred and ninety nine
naira) as against N843, 563,146.00 allocated in 2016, representing an increase
of N156, 443,753.00” about 18.5% increase.
Malami, who appeared happy however, said that the budget of the legal
services sub head that witnessed about 18.5% increase could not still enable
them grapple with the challenges that may be arising from the sub head
overtime. He said “given the enormous additional responsibilities on the
Ministry arising from the passage of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act
(ACJA) 2015 as well as the increase in the quantum of other activities currently
being pursued by the Ministry, this amount is unarguably, grossly inadequate
and will unfortunately over stretch the ministry capacity to cope to the
maximum in the light of the prevailing realities”.
The minister expressed optimism that, the sum of N689, 108,794.00 (six
hundred and eighty nine million, one hundred and eight thousand, seven
hundred and ninety four naira) allocated to the Ministry for 2017 capital
projects will boost the ministry’s performance index. “the projects, if
implemented, will greatly enhance our capacity for effectiveness and improved
service delivery and undoubtedly encourage and motivate our lawyers to give
their best in the service of our dear nation”, he maintained.
In his response to Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, representing Delta West, on
payment of outstanding judgment debts, the Minister explained that he was
conscious and perturbed, adding that concerted efforts are ongoing to offset
the outstanding and probably abate future debts. “I have a cause to sign a
letter to budget office this morning before leaving my office to attend to this
national calling and constitutional responsibility. If the desired response was
not gotten from budget office between now and Monday next week, I will fall
back on the committee for emergency executive meeting on the way out of the
judgment debts outstanding.”
Members of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal
Matters, chaired by Senator David Umaru, representing Niger east Senatorial
District expressed satisfaction with the articulate budget presentation by the
AGF and unanimously applauded the uncommon recoveries made by the
ministry under zero capital budget allocation in 2016.
Aguocha O. Natty
FOR: AD (Information) federal Ministry of justice