The Federal Government of Nigeria has ratified a pivotal agreement with the Kingdom of Spain aimed at enhancing the fight against crime and corruption within the country.
This significant announcement was made by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice during a press briefing following the Federal Executive Council meeting held at the State House in Abuja.
The agreement, part of a series of accords signed during a state visit to Madrid in June 2022 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, encompasses various essential areas, including mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, extradition, and the transfer of sentenced persons. Other agreements address economic cooperation, tourism, sports, health initiatives, and scientific collaboration.
Notably, the treaties on Mutual Legal Assistance, Transfer of Sentenced Persons, and Extradition had remained unratified until now. The Justice Minister highlighted the challenge of trans-border crime, stating, “There had been trans-border inhibitions, where a person wanted in Nigeria could evade capture by crossing into another territory.”
He elaborated, “Today, we addressed the agreement concerning Nigeria and the Kingdom of Spain, focusing on the exchange of information and investigative collaboration. After the agreement’s signing, it was essential to have it ratified domestically, which was successfully presented and approved by the Council.”
Additionally, the Minister noted a second aspect centered on mutual assistance to apprehend fugitives attempting to evade justice, affirming, “It’s crucial either to bring them to justice or to take justice to them.”
The third memo pertains to the exchange of sentenced individuals, allowing for the possibility of serving sentences in either country, dependent on specific requests. This illustrates Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening international legal cooperation and addressing cross-border criminal challenges effectively.
