A former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Kanu Agabi (SAN), has urged security and anti-graft agencies to ensure that looted funds kept abroad are returned to the country.
Agabi, who also urged the country to encourage those with funds abroad to return them, warned that failure to do so would amount to a failure as a generation.
The former chief law officer spoke yesterday in Abuja at the public presentation of two books authored by a retired judge of the High Court of Kogi State and legal scholar, Professor Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye.
The books – Electronic Evidence (Second Edition, with the Evidence Act, 2011) and A Compendium of Cases on Electronic Evidence (Volume II, 2020-2025), were unveiled alongside the launch of the Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye Educational Foundation for indigent students.
The well-attended event, chaired by former Chairman of the Body of Benchers (BOB), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), was attended by Justices of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the Federal High Court, and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) , experienced lawyers, associates of the author, his family members, among others.
Every speaker expressed beautiful thoughts about the author and
applauded his diligence, honesty, and commitment duty.
Agabi hailed Justice Omolaye-Ajileye for a lifetime of integrity and dedication to the legal profession, despite opportunities to compromise.
‘He is a man whose conduct, both in public and in private, has never brought him under suspicion, even at a time when the nation is rife with suspicion,’ Agabi said.
The ex-AGF described the retired judge as an epitome of honesty while his life has demonstrated that public office could be held without yielding to corruption.
Turning his attention to the nation’s anti-corruption fight, Agabi urged agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to ensure that stolen public funds are recovered.
The former AGF noted that a huge chunk of the nation’s wealth is stashed abroad, adding: ‘We must repatriate our looted funds or we have failed as a generation.’
He stressed that the looted assets are essential to restoring public confidence and securing the country’s future.
Agabi also urged judicial officers to defend the image of their profession against growing public misconceptions.
The former chief law officer noted that the institution must collectively respond to challenges confronting it rather than leaving individual judges to bear the burden.
He questioned the policy of retiring experienced judges while they were still capable of contributing to national development, suggesting that retired jurists should continue to serve the country in legislative and advisory capacities.
Agabi urged lawyers to embrace continuous learning, stressing that knowledge remains the greatest asset in legal practice.
Olanipekun expressed concern about the increasing abuse of the freedom of expression in the cyber space and called for measures to enhance the effectiveness of the Cybercrimes Act.
The former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President said it was worrisome that some people could refer to others in unprintable names on the phone and social media without such people being subjected to the law.
He tasked lawyers and movers of the academics to continue supporting reforms that would equip the justice system to address emerging challenges in the digital space.
Olanipekun advocated enhanced cooperation among stakeholders in the country’s justice sector, stressing that collaboration is essential to strengthening the administration of justice.
Describing Omolaye-Ajileye as one of his mentees, Olanipekun said the event was one of his ‘favorite days’.
He hailed the retired judge for his contributions to legal scholarship and the development of electronic evidence jurisprudence in the country.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede noted that financial crimes, particularly the activities of the Yahoo boys, have become one of country’s greatest threats.
The EFCC chairman noted that such activities fuel insecurity, terrorism and economic hardship.
He said when people ask why his agency goes after the Yahoo boys, he always let them know that the effect of the activities of those young people are as harmful as those of the treasury looters, or even more.
Olukoyede sought stronger collaboration among law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, and citizens in tackling corruption and cybercrime.
He said the EFCC recently secured convictions against a former minister and other high-profile suspects, adding that the anti-graft agency had also prosecuted foreign nationals allegedly involved in laundering funds linked to criminal networks.
Olukoyede announced that the commission had started deploying artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen its investigations.
The EFCC chairman pleaded with lawmakers and legal scholars to review emerging legal issues surrounding AI and digital evidence.
Omolaye-Ajileye, who raised concerns about what he called the perceived inconsistency in the alteration to the Electoral Act, said he was encouraged to write the books to promote knowledge in the area of electronic evidence.
He said the foundation was informed by his experience in life and his desire to continue to assist the less privileged.