• Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Launch of central database criminal justice information system will deepen transparency, accountability – Malami

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The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), said on Thursday that the launch of Central Database under the Asset Tracing, Recovery and Management Regulations (ATRM), 2019 and the Central Criminal Justice Information System (CCIIS) will deepen transparency and accountability in the country.

Speaking during the launch in Abuja, Malami stated that the federal government was committed in deploying technology to deepen transparency; which the Central Database represents.

“We have established that commitement through inclusion of civil society organizations, in our fight against corruption, enrolled as members of Open Government Partnership, Establish Legal Framework that established Anti-Corruption Agencies and we are now committed in deploying technology to deepen our transparency; that is what the Central Database we are launching here today is all about,” he emphasised.

He noted that the launch was geared towards the fight against corruption with particular reference to membership of international organisations inclusive of financial action Task Force, open Government Partnership “targeted at deepening transparency within this context of United Nations Convention Against Corruption.”

He noted that the Database that will be put in place will ensure uniformity of process and real time access and information feeding.

He said the present administration has set another pace as he expressed gratitude to president Muhammadu Buhari, for the opportunity to serve under his cabinet to achieve this milestone.

“I am pleased to be part of this historic event under my supervision and I wish to specially thank the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Dayo Apata, SAN and his team in the Asset Recovery and Management Unit, the Civil Society Organisation support from Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) and our local consultant, Counter Fraud Centre who have worked assiduously and extensively to develop these historic tools, the Central Database on recovered asset and the Central Criminal Justice Information System under the Asset Tracing, Recovery and Management Regulations, 2019 and the National Anti-Corruption Strategy respectively to assist in the fight against corruption.

“We will, working together, establish and re-enact transparency and accountability in governance and management of our resources which we have committed to do by way of strengthening cooperation of our membership of Open Government Partnership,” he noted.

The Minister said the Ministry of Justice was developing legislation for the full implementation and operation of the CCJIS in order to ensure compliance.

“Accordingly, the Federal Ministry of Justice looks forward working with the Judiciary at all levels, and Anti-Corruption Institution at both the states and federal levels and the Nigerian Police in order to run the information center real time.

“Let me reassure stakeholders that the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice under my watch is working on deploying the technology to every nook and corners of the Federation to enable the relevant stakeholders key into this 21st Century technology in Nigeria which guarantees transparency and ensures there is accountability on the part of public officers.”