The Federal Government of Nigeria will in May partner with 59 other countries in an agreement over sanctions to be imposed on corrupt political and public office holders.
The Pact will be sealed by President Muhammad Buhari along with 59 other world leaders in the United Kingdom. Following the agreement, looters of public funds and corrupt officials will no longer be safe both home and abroad.
As part of the agreement, some of the sanctions expected to keep the agreement afloat include: travel restriction or denial of entry visa into the 60 countries; rejection of request for political asylum by corrupt political and public office holders; likely loss of citizenship; no more approval of naturalization for any corrupt person; no establishment of shell companies abroad; and the corrupt will not be allowed to operate foreign accounts in any of the 60 nations.
Speaking extensively on the subject matter to correspondents of Sahara Reporter, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami, SAN, said: “The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is stepping up the fight against corruption. I am happy to bring to your notice that Nigeria and 59 other countries will enter into an agreement in May on the imposition of international sanctions against corrupt political and public office holders. This will take place at the 2016 international summit on anti-corruption in the UK.
“At the May summit, these 60 countries will agree on some sanctions against those who steal public funds or launder money.
“Some of these measures are travel restriction or denial of entry into the 60 countries; rejection of request for political asylum by corrupt political and public officers; no more approval of application for naturalization by any corrupt person; and the corrupt will not be allowed to operate foreign accounts in any of the signatory nation to the pact among others.
“The affected countries will also design ways of sharing intelligence on corrupt officers and money launderers. We will all key into this understanding as part of the global action against corruption.”
He added that: “With this development, there is no hiding place for any public office holder who steals funds in this country.”
In response to a question posed by the news agency’a correspondent, the AGF said: “The President will deliver a keynote address at the May summit. It all borders on the international appreciation of the anti-corruption agenda of this administration.
“In fact, Nigeria is being considered as the 2017 host of the international summit on anti-corruption.”