The Attorney General of the federation and minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, (SAN), has set up a 5-member Committee to investigate and verify the authenticity of the media report that syndicates from the ministry have sold federal government recovered properties.
Malami said in statement by his media aide, Dr.Umar Jibrilu Gwandu that “he did not approve and was not aware of and did not order the sale of any of such properties”
He was reacting to media report that federal government recovered properties have been sold by syndicate without the knowledge of his office .
The composition of the members of the committee was made known in a circular signed by the Solicitor General of the Federation U. E. Mohammed, ESQ dated 29th November 2021.
The circular was titled “The Constitution of a Committee to investigate the alleged sale of Federal Government of Nigeria’s Property by syndicate in the Ministry”.
“A committee is hereby constituted to investigate the allegation with the view to unravelling the veracity or otherwise of the Publication” the circular reads in part.
The Committee Chaired by the Director Public Prosecution of the Federation which was inaugurated on Tuesday was saddled with the responsibility and task of unveiling the factuality and accuracy of the publication and recommends ways of handling the matter in accordance with the provisions of the extant laws.
According to the circular, the committee was expected to complete the assignment within a period of one week and submit the report of their investigation to the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice.
Malami, therefore, called on members of the general public especially those who interacted with the alleged syndicate group or have information or posses any evidence to open up and provide information that could be helpful to committee in discharging its responsibility.
“Individuals, groups, companies, institutions or organizations that claimed to have associated with the alleged syndicate from the Federal Ministry of Justice in relation to purchase of houses, landed property, vehicles, vessels, plants and machineries belonging to the Federal Government are encouraged to come out with any information, evidence or document regarding the alleged sales,” he said.
According to the circular the Secretariat of the Investigation Committee can be contacted at the Office of the Director Public Prosecution of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Justice and be reached within one week from 1st December, 2021 or via email: investigation.committee@justice.gov.ng.