I know nothing about arrest of Innoson’s boss —AGF

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has said he is not privy to the recent arrest of Chief Innocent Chukwuma by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The anti-graft agency had said it picked up the automobile entrepreneur because he failed to honour its invitation, a claim denied by Chukwuma.

However, while briefing State House correspondents after the spill-over meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Thursday, Malami said he was yet to be briefed by the arresting agency.

“In all sincerity, I wasn’t privy to facts that led to the stated arrest. I haven’t been briefed by relevant agencies, but one thing I know is the fact that there has been a case between him and the GTBank that is pending in court and it is being prosecuted.

“Apart from that, I am not privy to facts and circumstances that led to his alleged arrest on Thursday. So, until I am briefed by relevant arrest agencies, I am not in a clear position to make any disclosure about the arrest,” he said.

The AGF said his ministry presented two memos to the council, including one relating to Copyright Bill relating to the creative industry, which he said, “is meant to ensure the protection of creative works against piracy and protection of intellectual property rights.”

According to him, the bill was approved by the council and the Attorney-General had accordingly been instructed to send the bill to the National Assembly for passage into law and eventual assent by the president if passed.

The second memo the ministry presented was related to the suppression of piracy and maritime offenses.

Also speaking, Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibrin, said his ministry also presented two memos.

He said: “One was taken on Wednesday and one was taken on Thursday. The one taken on Thursday was a policy memo seeking council approval for the revision of the National Biosafety Management Agency.

“The National Biceptive Management Agency is an agency under the Ministry of Environment charged with the responsibility of monitoring and supervising the use of genetically modified organisms in the country.

“Most of the time, people tend to mix this agency up with another sister agency in the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. The one under Technology Ministry is charged with the responsibility of carrying out research and coming up with breakthroughs.

“The one under the ministry is a regulatory agency charged with the responsibility of checking products with genetically modified organisms which will come into the country to ensure that they are safe for consumption.

“This policy – the first that we had was in 2006 -had been around before the establishment of the agency. The ministry is to review it as technology is advancing. The policy is meant to put in place regulations and ensure that our people are safe.

“The second one taken on Wednesday was about hydrocarbon remediation project in Rivers State where approval was given for engagement of consultants to supervise, monitor and evaluate a proper framework that is put in place to assist in supervising and actualising the clean-up.”

On his part, the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, said council approved memo relating to Veterinary Council of Nigeria which had been in existence since 1953 and under the provisions of the law setting it up.

He said the council members were meeting from time to time to improve regulations on veterinary practice so that people who were not qualified as veterinary doctors did not operate in the country.

“The regulations had been submitted to the council and the council approved them for the president to endorse so that those regulations can be put into practice for the protection of livestock,” he said.