AGF, NNPC GMD meet Buhari in Aso Rock

THE Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami as well as the Group Managing Director of the National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru, met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday to brief him of certain developments.

However, it was not clear whether the meeting took place in his office or his official residence.

The Presidency had previously indicated that Buhari would be working from his residence.

Following the meeting, the AGF told State House correspondents that the president was worried that the National Assembly has failed to pass several bills on anti-corruption now pending before the lawmakers.

Explaining visit to the president, Malami said it was routine and related to general issues on corruption.

He said Buhari was worried that assets that have been recovered are scattered across the country whereas they should have been taken care of by the proposed Proceeds of Crime Bill in Asset Management Agency.

He said: “Mr President is worried that anti-corruption bill pending before the National Assembly over time, 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 and embedded in the Proceeds of Crime Bill in 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.”

Continuing, the AGF stated: “There are limited issues that relate to the parastatals under the Ministry of Justice.

“As you are aware, this afternoon, the Electoral Reform Committee that has been put in place has submitted its report to my office.

“I equally briefed Mr President on that and in addition to the report; there are bills that have been presented for the consideration of the Federal Executive Council as they relate to amendment to the electoral process.

“The whole essence of the meeting was to seek the view of Mr 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.”

On the report of the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s panel investigating the suspended Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), David Babachir Lawal and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke, the AGF affirmed that the panel will submit its report on Wednesday.

Asked about the progress of the panel, he said: “Well, you know the presidential committee that is investigating the NIA and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is supposed to make submission by tomorrow.

“It is pre-emptive now to discuss anything considering the fact that 1. the committee is under the chairmanship of the Vice President who is supposed to brief the president in that respect and two. The schedule for the committee’s assignment has not elapsed.

“So, it will be pre-emptive to speak about the committee because the time fixed for the assignment has not elapsed and against the background of the fact that it is the chairman of the committee that should brief the president.”

On his part, the NNPC GMD said he briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the activities of the corporation and its subsidiaries.

Baru said he briefed the President on the relative stability in the nation’s oil and gas sector in recent time as well as the fuel supply situation across the country.

The GMD said: “I briefed Mr President on the state of the NNPC and its subsidiaries and also nationally to get him briefed on the situation of fuel supply, crude oil productions, gas production and by extension ability to supply gas to the power sector.

“We had an extensive briefing as you could I passed here over two hours. I spent quite some time with him to discuss these national issues.

“He was happy with the state of the corporation and told us to continue with the efforts that we are doing and if we need any executive attention we should not hesitate to come back to him.”