Malami: Buhari worried over delay in passage of anti-graft bill

Abubakar Malami, attorney-general and minister of justice, says President Muhammadu Buhari is worried over the delay in the passage of the proceeds of crime act by the national assembly.

He said this on Tuesday while briefing state house correspondents on the outcome of a meeting with the president.

Malami said Buhari expressed sadness that there had not been any expeditious determination on the passage of the anti-graft bill by the national assembly.

“Mr President is worried about the anti-corruption bills that are pending before the national assembly overtime,” he said.

“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.”

Malami said he also briefed Buhari on the report of the electoral reform committee as well as other pending bills that were presented for the consideration of the federal executive council as they relate to amendment to the electoral process.