Barely two weeks after
President Muhammadu Buhari signed a Mutual Legal Assistance agreement with the
United Arab Emirate on the repatriation of stolen funds and extradition of
indicted officials, the Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, today met with the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Mahmud
Muhammad Al- Mahmud in his office in Maitama, Abuja.
The EFCC boss called for
the strengthening of the existing relationship between Nigeria and United Arab
Emirate, UAE, with a view to effectively tackle corruption within the African
continent.
“The fight against graft requires the
collaborative support of all and sundry, most especially the international
community for it to be won”, Magu said.
According to the EFCC
boss, the present administration in the country is poised to recover the nation’s
commonwealth looted and laundered in foreign countries by corrupt elements. He
said the Commission has intelligence that the UAE is considered a safe haven by
corrupt politically exposed persons in Nigeria.
“I have come to
seek your support and cooperation just as we had in the case of Diepreye
Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, James Ibori, among others to get the mission
accomplished”, Magu pleaded.
In his remark, the UAE
Ambassador, Al- Mahmud, pledged the support of his country to Nigeria’s anti
graft war saying, “No country can be an island on its own without the support
of others.”
ALSO…
N5.2bn Aviation Scam:
AGF’s Request for Brief Stalls Trial of Borishade, Others
Hearing on a suit filed
by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, against the former Minister
of Aviation, Babalola Borishade and four others before Justice Abubakar Sadiq
Umar of the FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, was stalled on Wednesday,
February 3, 2016 on the request of the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF,
for brief on the matter.
Though both parties were
present in court, Justice Umar informed them that the matter could not go on as
planned as the AGF requested for a brief on the case by the EFCC since the
matter had been in court for about 7 years.
He presented a letter
dated February 2, 2016 from the AGF requesting for an adjournment of the case
and records of court proceedings so far.
Counsel to EFCC, Chile
Okoroma told the court that, his hands were tied with regards to continuing the
proceeding as the AGF being the Chief Law Officer, has power over him.
According to Okoroma,
“under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, and Section 174 of the
Constitution, the AGF has the power to take over, continue or discontinue a
case.”
Counsel to the first defendant,
Kehinde Ogunwumiju and Regina Okotie- Eboh representing the 4th and
5th defendants who had initially sought for a dismissal of the case
which was earlier slated for ruling today, could not have their applications
taken as a result of the letter from the AGF.
Justice Umar adjourned
the case to February 17, 2016 for ruling and continuation of hearing pending
the decision of the AGF.
Borishade, his former
personal assistant, Tunde Dairo, and two others allegedly mismanaged a N5.2 billion
Aviation Safe Tower contract.
Others on trial for the
alleged offence are former Managing Director of Nigeria Airspace Management
Agency, Rowland Iyayi; an Australian, George Eider and Avsatel Communications
Ltd.
The suspects were
arraigned on November 19, 2009 by the EFCC on a 15-count charge of taking bribe
and forging aviation contract documents.
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