From: Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
The Governance and Stability Lead, of the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in Nigeria, Mr. William Robinson, has submitted that asset recovery is central to national and global efforts to strengthen anti-corruption.
He added that effective recovery and return of the proceeds of crime are essentials to securing justice.
He asserted this during the official launch of the policy brief on assessment of the implementation of Key Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) Principles in Asset Return and Management in Nigeria organized by Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice ANEEJ in Abuja yesterday.
According to him, putting stolen assets towards the delivery of public goods and services is the best way of ensuring anti-corruption efforts deliver for ordinary citizens.
Mr. Robinson added that The UK and Nigeria have both made great strides in this area.
This, according to him, includes their respective Proceeds of Crime legislations and the active asset recovery efforts pursued by the law enforcement agencies.
The FCDO Country Director stressed that both countries recognize the importance of international collaboration on asset recovery and are both signatories to the GFAR.
The relationship, he explained, has led to the establishment of key global standards and cooperation instruments on asset recovery between the two countries.
“These measures lay important groundwork, but further efforts are needed to ensure asset recovery is efficient, accountable and well-coordinated. “
