President Muhammadu Buhari has resumed at his office in the presidential villa, Abuja. On resumption of his duties as president and commander-in-chief, Mr. Buhari had closed door meetings separately with the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, Abubkar Malami, and the Group Managing Director, GMD of the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru.
Malami confirmed Buhari’s resumption to State House correspondents while answering questions after the meeting with the President.
President Buhari had missed key state meetings and functions in the last two weeks, sending speculations flying about his health condition.
Mr. Malami, a member of the Presidential committee investigating suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said he came to brief the president on how far the committee has gone with its findings.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice also disclosed that the President is worried about the delay in the passage of the Proceeds of Crime Act by the National Assembly, NASS.
He said the president noted that there had not been any expeditious determination on the passage of the anti-graft bill by the NASS.
“It’s a routine briefing of the president as it relates to general issues – the issues that have to do with anti-corruption.
“Mr. President is worried about the anti-corruption bills that are pending before the National Assembly overtime. There has not been any expeditious determination on the passage of the bills and indeed, the asset management agency was also part of the discussion.
“Mr President is worried that the assets that have been gathered over time by the agencies of government and that are responsible for the fight against corruption are scattered all over the place.
“Embedded in the Proceeds of Crime Bill is Asset Management Agency which is the agency put in place by the presidency for the purpose of the management of the associated assets that are recovered.
“So, Mr. President is indeed worried and the discussions bothered on how best we can handle it. There are limited issues that relate to the parastatals under the Ministry of Justice,’’ he said.
In his view, the meeting was to seek the opinion of the president and “the direction as to what to do next as it relates to the Electoral Reform Committee report that has been submitted and to consider routine processes under the Ministry of Justice’’.
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