President Muhammadu Buhari has authorized a thorough audit of all pending high profile corruption cases.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice , Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday while briefing newsmen.
He said that the audit will try to expose the reasons for the failure of past administrations to effectively prosecute corruption cases involving "some politically exposed persons."
He added that cases found to have been compromised in the past would be revisited.
“Similarly, those who compromised investigations of such cases will be duly prosecuted. Under this administration, there will be no respite for the corrupt,” he said.
Most of the pending cases against some former governors in court over their alleged complicity in money laundering and wanton looting of public treasury have not made any meaningful headway several years after they were initiated.
To correct this anomaly, the AGF vowed to re-invigorate all the anti-corruption agencies in the country.
“The battle against corruption is one which the administration of President Buhari has identified as crucial to the ultimate capacity of the Nigerian state to rise to its full potentials.
“The linkage between corruption and under-development has long been established and explains why Mr. President, in his inaugural address on May 29, 2015, identified corruption as the worst form of human rights violation as it denies the people the resources they need to develop and thrive.
“The Federal Ministry of Justice will, therefore, be positioned under my watch to play this role in a credible and committed manner.
“The task of re-invigorating the ministry and the other anti-corruption agencies such as the EFCC, the ICPC and the Nigeria Police Force, is one to which I hereby pledge my personal commitment and energy, in order to position them to fight it within the bounds of law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will and in line with international best practices.
“Fighting corruption, of course, is not only a question of having laws and institutions in place, but also involves the need to deepen institutional credibility and individual integrity.
“The staff of the ministry and the other agencies, who will be involved in this fight, must therefore, realise that new and improved standards will be required of them and this government will not accept excuses for failure in the investigation and prosecution of cases.
“On its part, government will continue to improve the levels of provisions of the resources and welfare requirements of the officers who will be involved in this campaign. We all must continue to be motivated by the fact that corruption is a monster which can consume us all if we do not collectively tackle it through individual efforts and collective approaches," he said.
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