President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in
Abuja signed nine international agreements, including an extradition
treaty with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), aimed at strengthening the
anti-corruption war, boosting the economy and improving security in the
country...
Buhari also expressed hope that signing
the agreements would enable the country to pursue the war against
corruption with vigor, check illicit flow of funds, boost the tax
regime, guarantee food security and improve living standards.
The president, who signed the agreements
in the Conference Hall of the First Lady’s office in the State House,
Abuja, directed all relevant agencies to ensure that they play their
defined roles in the implementation and application of the treaties,
with a view to providing Nigeria with the inherent benefits.
He said his action was in compliance
with the powers conferred on him by Section 5(1) (a) and (b) of the 1999
Constitution and Article 7 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of
Treaties of 1969.
The agreements signed by the president
were the 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 were: Charter for the Lake Chad
Basin between Nigeria, Cameroun, 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 Organization Performances and Phonograph Treaty.
Also included were agreements on World
Intellectual Property Organization Treaty on Audio-Visual Performances,
and the Marrakesh Treaty targeted at facilitating access to published
works for persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise.
Describing the move as an important
milestone in Nigeria’s sovereign capacity to fulfill its international
obligations, the president further said it was another step in the
pursuit of improving security, the economy and anti-graft war by the
country.
He explained that the implementation had
hitherto been delayed by the ratification process, disclosing that the
eventual signing of the agreements Thursday was the bye-product of the
memorandum earlier presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) by
the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice,
Abubakar Malami (SAN).
According to him, the signing, which had
equally been replicated in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the
relevant treaties, provides Nigeria with the full fledged opportunity to
enjoy cooperation with foreign authorities in the anti-corruption
campaign.
“Today’s ceremony marks a very important
milestone in our demonstration of sovereign capacity to fulfill our
international obligations and take important steps for the benefit of
our economy, security and the anti-corruption war within and outside
Nigeria…
“The full implementation of the
agreements has however 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 Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, council
has approved the ratification of the said agreements, thus paving the
way for today’s ceremony.
“With this sovereign act, which has been
replicated in the United Arab Emirates by their responsible
authorities, we are now in a position to utilize these agreements fully
to foster cooperation between our respective authorities, particularly
for the purpose of prosecuting the anti-corruption campaign of this
government…
“It is my hope that these instruments
which are signed today 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.
“All agencies of government with roles
to play under the respective treaties now ratified are hereby directed
to ensure that they play their anticipated roles in an effective and
responsible manner in order to ensure that we reap the full benefits of
these agreements,” Buhari stated.
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