Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today in Abu Dhabi signed six agreements to enhance bilateral relations between them.
Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) Femi Adesina disclosed in a statement that one of them was the Judicial Agreements on Extradition, Transfer of Sentenced Persons, Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters, and Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal and Commercial Matters, which includes the recovery and repatriation of stolen wealth. He said the agreement was signed by Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and his counterpart in the United Arab Emirates, Sultan Bin Saeed Albadi.
According to Adesina, “The signing of the agreements on trade, finance and judicial matters was witnessed by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, and the UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs, Obaid Attayar, signed the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement, while the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Okechukwu Enelamah, signed the Agreement on Trade Promotion and Protection with the UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs.”
Adesina said that at a reception after the signing of the agreements, President Buhari reiterated his commitment to fighting corruption and restoring Nigeria’s dignity in the comity of nations.
“The President also urged all Islamic countries to support the fight against terrorism in Nigeria and denounce the atrocities of Boko Haram as un-Islamic and against the teachings of the Holy Prophet,” Adesina said, adding: “In his remarks, Crown Prince Zayed Al Nahyan said that the relationship between Nigeria and the UAE will be strengthened by President Buhari’s visit and the signing of the agreements.” (News Express)
Our Government needs to look into all the illegally purchased properties acquired by Nigerians in Dubai, America, South Africa, Ghana, Europe, and other nations. Nigerians who siphoned our treasure in order to buy the hundreds of million or billion dollar properties, should be brought to justice and they should forfeit such properties unless they can prove that the funds used in the purchase of the properties came from their honest earnings.
This measure will send a clear message to all that the era of stealing and looting state or national treasure to purchase property abroad is over.