President frowns at delay in passage of anti-graft Act

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, says President Muhammadu Buhari is worried over the delay in the passage of the Proceeds of Crime Act by the National Assembly.

Malami stated this while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of a closed door meeting with President Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

According to him, the President noted that there has not been any expeditious determination on the passage of the anti-graft bill by the NASS.

“It’s a routine briefing of the president as it relates to general issues – the issues that have to do with anti-corruption,” he said.

“Mr. President is worried about the anti-corruption bills that are pending before the National Assembly. There has not been any expeditious determination on the passage of the bills. The asset management agency was also part of the discussion.

“Mr President is worried that the assets that have been gathered over time by the agencies of government and that are responsible for the fight against corruption are scattered all over the place. Embedded in the Proceeds of Crime Bill is the Asset Management Agency, which is the agency put in place by the presidency for the purpose of the management of the associated assets that are recovered.

“Mr. President is indeed worried and the discussions bothered on how best we can handle it. There are limited issues that relate to the parastatals under the Ministry of Justice,’’ he said.

The Minister said he briefed the President on the report of the Electoral Reform Committee as well as other pending bills that were presented for the consideration of the Federal Executive Council as they relate to amendment to the electoral process.

The essence of the meeting, he said, was to seek the view of the President and “the direction as to what to do next as it relates to the Electoral Reform Committee report that has been submitted and to consider routine processes under the Ministry of Justice.”

On the presidential committee investigating the NIA and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Malami said the committee would  submit its reports on May 3.

(Source: NAN)