President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday signed some international agreements which will among other things boost the performance of the nation’s economy and the security of lives and property in the country. Besides, one of the treaties will give fillip to the anti-corruption war as it would help Nigeria share intelligence on corrupt practices with other nations, particularly it will help push for extradition of corrupt Nigerians from the United Arab Emirates which has of late become a destination of some crooked Nigerian public officials.
Describing the ratification of the agreements as very significant, the president said the full implementation of the agreements had been delayed because of the need for the two sides involved to complete the process of approval.
The documents signed are: Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters; Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Civil and Commercial Matters; Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and Extradition Treaty.
Other documents signed were the Charter for the Lake Chad Basin between Nigeria, Cameroun, Central African Republic, Libya, Niger and the Republic of Chad; African Tax Administration Forum Agreement on Mutual Assistance in Tax Matters and World Intellectual Property Organisation Performances and Phonograms Treaty.
World Intellectual Property Organisation Treaty on Audio-Visual Performances and Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise were also ratified.
With the treaties, for example it would be possible to extradite anyone found to have committed any crime in the country but runs away to the United Arab Emirate.
“With this sovereign act, which has been replicated in the United Arab Emirates by their responsible authorities, we are now in a position to utilise these agreements fully to foster cooperation between our respective authorities particularly for the purpose of prosecuting the anti-corruption campaign of this government”, the President said.
“It is my hope that these instruments which are signed today (Thursday) will reinvigorate the anti-corruption war and check the illicit flow of funds out of our country to other jurisdictions, improve national security, food security, boost our economy and tax regimes and improve the overall well-being of our creative community.
“All agencies of government with roles to play under the respective treaties now ratified are hereby directed to ensure that they play their anticipated roles in an effective and responsible manner in order to ensure that we reap the full benefits of these agreements,” he stressed.
