KEY POINTS
- Nigeria is after the extradition of Simon Ekpa over cross-border offences.
- AGF Fagbemi spoke about recent extradition and anti-terror success.
- More than $52 million in assets that have been recovered have been repatriated and diverted into public projects.
Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, revealed on Thursday that the Federal Government is vigorously cooperating with its Finnish counterpart in order to see the extradition of Simon Ekpa for prosecution for action that presumably poses a threat to the national security and sovereignty of Nigeria.
Fagbemi stated this during the quarterly stakeholders and citizens’ engagement forum held at the Ministry of Justice headquarters, Abuja.
Simon Ekpa committed offences in Finland and here in Nigeria, Fagbemi said. We cannot ask for his release until the Finnish authorities have dealt with him there. We will then go after his extradition.
The extraditions and prosecutions expose Nigeria’s legal push
The AGF underscored that work on international cooperation continues to be crucial to the Nigeria justice mandate. He mentioned recent extraditions; those of Hassan Bun Hussein Abolore Lawal and Okechukwu Josiah Odunna to the United States in early 2025, and Benjamin Nnanyereugo (aka Killaboi) from Qatar to Nigeria in April to face murder charges.
He saaid terrorism-related cases were tried and 226 convicted on domestic efforts in December 2024.
Asset recovery, legal reforms and efforts of victimization prevention
In addition, Fagbemi mentioned the advancement in asset recovery and management, such as the Proceeds of Crime Regulations, 2024 implementation and a national asset management database. He came out with a success of $52.88 million repatriated from the U.S, which $50 million went to the DARES renewable energy project for 17.5 million Nigerians.
Other initiatives include a Joint Case team for cyber crime, reforms to the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act and support for victims of gender based violence. The Ministry obtained six convictions for sexual and gender based violence, the case of Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu.
Justice for the vulnerable groups and juvenile offenders
The Ministry is reviewing also the Borstal Institutions and Remand Centre Act concurrent to the development of the Children and Youth Correctional Institutions Bill to bring into tandem the rehabilitation of child offender with international standards.
The AGF highlighted the need for partnership with civil society and traditional institutions to promote a process of restitutive justice for the Women, children & other vulnerable groups.
