The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthen efforts to fight corruption at all levels.
Fagbemi said this at Friday’s High-Level Seminar in Commemoration of the United Nations International Anti-Corruption Day in Abuja.
The minister was represented by thd Director of Planning Research and Statistics at the ministry, Victoria Ojogbane.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference’s theme is “UNCAC At 20: Uniting the World Against Corruption”.
“President Bola Tinubu is determined to strengthen the fight against corruption at all levels and ensure prudent utilisation of resources for sustainable economic growth and development.
“In ensuring the above, the eight presidential priorities of the present administration have the Anti-Corruption stance as a key priority.
“This priority seeks to prevent corruption and strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of various Anti-Corruption Agencies,” he said.
Fagbemi said to ensure effective deliverables, his Office had been charged with critical performance indicators which will ensure percentage implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS).
He said the indicator would also ensure the coordination of mechanisms involved in the anti-corruption efforts.
He listed some laws enacted to strengthen the fight against corruption, including the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit Act 2018.
He said others are the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 2019, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007.
He said Bankers and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020, Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act 2022 and Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 were part of the Laws.
Fagbemi said the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 were also included.
According to him, the present Administration is committed to continuously deploying Digital Technology to prevent, identify and manage conflicts of interest.
While reiterating other government efforts, the attorney-general commended the efforts of all collaborating to curb corruption in the country.
Earlier, the representative of the U.S. Embassy, Jason Smith, expressed the commitment of the U. S. to support Nigeria in the fight against corruption.
Similarly, the representative of the European Union (EU) Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC), Emmanuel Uche, urged unity in the fight against corruption.
He said: “we also need to fight petty corruption at the grassroots level. But in all, there is hope on the horizon.
The Acting Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Murtala Kankia, expressed the bureau’s commitment to continue enlightening the public on the ills of corrupt practices.
Kankia said prevention was the best way to fight corruption, which was part of why the bureau ensured asset declaration for public office holders.
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, said collaboration was fundamental if success was to be achieved in the fight against corruption.
Olukoyede was represented by his Director of Operations, Abdulkarim Chukkol. (NAN)