The Federal Government of Nigeria has agreed to publish the names of high ranking officials from whom public funds were recovered, according to Abubakar Malami (photo), the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation. This is coming after a ruling by a Federal High Court in Lagos ordering the Federal Government to immediately release information about high ranking officials from whom public funds were recovered, the circumstances under which funds were recovered, and the exact amount recovered.

The judgement was in view of a Freedom of Information (FOI) suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) against the Federal Government.

“The gravity of the crime of grand corruption, the devastating effects on the socially and economically vulnerable sectors of the population, and the fact that recovery of huge funds from high-ranking public officials entrusted with the public treasury raise a prima-facie case and therefore amount to exceptional circumstances that justify naming those high-ranking officials in the public interest,” SERAP said.

Malami who disclosed this on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, said the Federal Government agreed to carry out the order providing that it does not result in violation of court rules.

It should be highlighted that data from the Ministry of Information in 2016, showed that the government retrieved a total of $415 million cash between May 29, 2015 and May 25, 2016. Aside cash, the ministry also announced the recovery of 239 assets such as farmlands, plots of land, uncompleted buildings, completed buildings, vehicles and maritime vessels, among others, during the one-year period.

Anita Fatunji