BEVERLY HILLS, March 01, (THEWILL) – The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN, has harped on the need for the National Assembly to urgently pass the pending Proceeds of Crime and Whistle-blower bills, stating that the fight against corruption would be enhanced when the bills become laws.
Malami, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser, Mr. Salihu Isah, made the plea when he appeared on a live programme on the Nigerian Television Authority, designed to focus on the whistle-blowing policy of the Federal Government.
While responding to a question on the live programme, he pleaded with members of the National Assembly “to expedite action towards the passage of the bills as that will engender increased citizen participation in the anti-graft war and whistle– blowing activities.”
The Attorney-General of the Federation pointed out that the law would carry more weight than the policy statement currently in force.
He expressed dissatisfaction over the long stay of the Proceeds of Crime and Whistle-blower bills before the National Assembly, explaining that the passage of the laws would have provided a legal backing to the whistle-blowing policy of Federal Government.
According to him, “So far, the only safeguard for whistle-blowers rests on the political will.
“The agencies involved in prosecuting the anti-graft war are keying into the understanding of protecting whistle-blowers.”
Malami said Nigerians were beginning to appreciate the public interest in the process, noting that it had got to a level where close relations were now blowing the whistle on their allies.
“The policy is being accommodated wholeheartedly by Nigerians,” he observed.
The minister pointed out that Nigeria participated in the last year’s London summit on anti-corruption war and had joined the Open Government Partnership to enhance the fight against corruption.
He said the Federal Government had demonstrated the political goodwill “aimed at exposing corruption and mismanagement of public resources.”
Responding to another question, Malami explained that whistle-blowers could report allegations with criminal elements to his office or such information could be routed through other anti-graft agencies.
He added that the Federal Ministry of Justice was collaborating with other anti-graft agencies to ensure that justice was done to the report and the reporter.
The minister also disclosed that the federal ministries of justice and finance were working on a document to eliminate the bottlenecks associated with reporting criminalities and administrative ills.
“The single deed document is being developed to save whistle-blowers of the tripartite process of reporting criminalities and administrative ills,” he said.
