FG to get value for forfeited assets by establishing database, says Solicitor-General

THE Solicitor-General, Dayo Apata, SAN, has said the Federal Government would guard against wastage in its efforts to dispose of forfeited assets.

He noted that to achieve this government would  establish a database of forfeited assets.

According to the  Apata this would be done by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Disposal of Federal Government Forfeited Assets.

He assured Nigerians that creation of database would ensure that the Federal Government gets value for all the forfeited assets soon to be disposed.

A statement by the spokesman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wilson Uwujaren, quoted Apata to have said this during his visit to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

The statement was titled, “‘Sale of Assets: Committee commends EFCC, assures FG of value for forfeited assets’.

According to the statement, Apata said the Inter ministerial committee decided to introduce uniform process of assets disposal so that the Federal Government can have full benefit of what has been forfeited.

It read, “He (Apata) pointed out that the committee will create a central database of assets that had been forfeited to the Federal Government.”

Apata also commended the synergy among the relevant agencies represented on the committee.

“For the first time in Nigeria, all agencies are sitting together and discussing on the same table on issues related to assets management and disposal,” he said.

He thanked the EFCC for the cooperation which the committee received from the agency, noting that the commission was pivotal to the committee’s assignment considering the fact that it has 16 of the 25 sites where the forfeited assets were located.

“So it is only reasonable to come and pay homage and discuss with you how we can execute this assignment”, Apata stated.

He disclosed that the committee, in furtherance of its assignment has already advertised for valuers, and would soon be inviting auctioneers.

While welcoming the visitors to the commission, the acting EFCC chairman, Mohammed Abba reiterated the resolve of the agency to assist the committee in the execution of its mandate.

“He promised to facilitate the request of the committee to visit the zones where the commission maintain offices for onsite inspection of forfeited assets, noting that the commission extended similar courtesy to the Justice Ayo Salami panel,” the statement noted.

The inter-ministerial  committee was inaugurated on November 9, 2020 by the Attorney- General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and Dayo Akpata is the chairman of the committee.