Justice Abubakar Malami, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has constituted a five-member committee to probe the alleged sale of Federal Government recovered properties by syndicates in the ministry.
This was made known in a statement by Dr Umar Gwandu, his special assistant on media and public relations in Abuja on Tuesday. According to the statement, Justice Malami’s office was not aware of any sale and did not order or authorise the sales of the Federal Government’s recovered property.
The Committee chaired by the Director, Public Prosecution of the ministry is required to complete the assignment and submit its findings within one week to the Solicitor general of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of justice.
Read: Paris Club Refund: Governors say Malami working against public interest, colluding with consultants
The Committee which is Chaired by the Director, Public Prosecution of the ministry, is to unveil the veracity of the publication and recommend ways of handling the matter in accordance with the provisions of extant laws.
What the statement reads
The composition of the committee was revealed in a circular signed by U.E Mohammed, the solicitor General of the Federation and is dated November 29, 2021.
The circular titled “The Constitution of a Committee to investigate the alleged sale of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Property by syndicates in the Ministry” is aimed at constituting a committee which will reveal the veracity of the publication and recommend ways to handle the matter as provided by law.
In the statement by the minister, he said, “It is important to set the records straight that the office of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has not officially started the sale of the Federal Government’s recovered property.”
Read: Malami never forced us to convert recovered loot at N305 per dollar – Keystone Bank denies reports
“The Honourable Minister did not approve, did not order, and was not aware of the sale of any of such property.”
The minister called on members of the public who have interacted with the alleged syndicate group and possess any evidence to avail that information to the committee as it will help in discharging its responsibility.
The statement also revealed the right places to contact for information on the alleged syndicate, “The Secretariat of the Investigation committee can be contacted at the office of the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Justice which can be reached within one week from December 1, or via email: investigation.committee@justice.gov.ng.”
