President Muhammadu Buhari has signed an agreement with the United
Arab Emirates (UAE) to strengthen Nigeria’s war against corruption.
By this treaty, Nigeria will
be able to extradite and prosecute its citizens who launder ill-gotten wealth
in the UAE.
Dubai, the commercial city in
UAE, is a favourite destination for corrupt Nigerian government officials who
invest heavily in real estate there.
The president also signed
agreements with other countries to improve the security in the country and
stabilise the economy.
Speaking at the signing
ceremony at the state house on Thursday, Buhari said: “It is my hope that these
instruments will reinvigorate the anti-corruption war and check the illicit
flow of funds out of our country to other jurisdictions, improve national
security, food security, boost our economic and tax regimes and improve the
overall well-being of our creative community.”
The president said the
signing of the agreements was an important milestone in demonstrating the
sovereign capacity of fulfilling the country’s international obligations and
take important steps for the benefit of the economy, security and the
anti-corruption war.
Buhari said the full
implementation of the agreements had been delayed due to the need by both sides
to conclude their respective ratification processes.
“I am happy to note
therefore, that pursuant to a Memorandum presented to the federal executive
council by the honourable attorney-general of the federation and minister of
justice, council has approved the ratification of the said agreements,” he
said.
“I am delighted to perform
today, the duty of executing Instruments of Ratification of certain Agreements
on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, pursuant to the powers conferred
on me by Section 5(1) (a) and (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Article 7 of the Vienna Convention on the law
of treaties of 1969.
“With this sovereign act,
which has been replicated in the United Arab Emirates by their responsible
authorities, we are now in a position to utilise these agreements fully to
foster cooperation between our respective authorities particularly for the
purpose of prosecuting the anti-corruption campaign of this government.
The signed agreements are;
agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, agreement on mutual
legal assistance in civil and commercial matters, agreement on the transfer of
sentenced persons and an extradition treaty.
Others are charter for the
Lake Chad basin between Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Libya,
Niger and the Republic of Chad; African tax administration forum agreement on
mutual assistance in tax matters and world intellectual property organisation
performances and phonograms treaty.
Also signed were agreements
on the world intellectual property organisation treaty on audiovisual
performances and the Marrakesh treaty to facilitate access to published works
for persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise.
Source: thecable.ng
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