FG saves N4.5trillion from prosecutions

Between 2015 and now, the Ministry of Justice has saved the Federal Government about N4.5 trillion from prosecuting civil and criminal cases. The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, said this on Wednesday while addressing State House reporters after the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari. Malami, who […]

Between 2015 and now, the Ministry of Justice has saved the Federal Government about N4.5 trillion from prosecuting civil and criminal cases.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, said this on Wednesday while addressing State House reporters after the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Malami, who said he presented a two-year scorecard of his ministry to the council, stated: "Fundamentally arising from the cases that were conducted by the Federal Ministry of Justice, the ministry has succeeded in saving the government around N4.5 trillion relating to the claims that were presented in respect of these cases which were, indeed, conducted and concluded."

The minister put the total number of convictions in the second phase trail of Boko Haram terrorists at Kainji at 255 and those discharged, 737.

He noted that the government had put in place, a committee saddled with the responsibilities of formulating policies and strategies that would ease off congestion of prisons.

The attorney-general stated that over 70 percent of the inmates were awaiting trials, saying "there are sizeable numbers that couldn’t afford to pay limited fines that have been imposed on them arriving from their convictions.

"There are those awaiting trials that have never seen the court room for over five years and above, and indeed, there are multiple legislations that are before the National Assembly that are intended to support the decongestion of prison formation process."

The minister said he also informed the council about the ongoing prosecution of Boko Haram cases.

"We presented a position as to the number of cases that were prosecuted, number of convictions that were procured and the number of discharges that were made relating to the cases and then made a presentation as to the road maps for the continuation of the process.

"There were other presentations that were made particularly as it relates to plea bargain. There are a lot of pending criminal cases in respect of which the accused persons standing trials made offers for plea bargain. Again, there are high profile cases that we made our score card and gave an insight as to their respective positions.

"A presentation was made relating to national prosecution team as it relates to the cases they are expected to prosecute," the minister added.