ABUJA—THE Federal Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi(SAN) yesterday begged foreign investors not to lose confidence in the nation’s economic and justicial systems because of the activities of some Nigerian fraudsters in the past.
He advised them to come into the country in their thousands and invest into the nation’s economy even as he assured them that the present administration has put in place economic reform packages including enactment of appropriate legislation viable enough to checkmate criminal tendencies.
Chief Olujinmi (SAN) spoke at the public presentation of a book, entitled “Nigerian Laws on Public Finance.”
The book itself, a-three volume compilation of 196 legislations enacted between 1916 and 2002 by successive governments on public finance and the economy was written by a civil servant, Mr Nda Yakubu.
The presentation of the book literally magnetized dozens of renowned Nigerians including a past Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon, into the Yaradua Centre, Abuja, the launch venue of the book.
A number of important personalities including Gen Gowon, present at the occasion mounted the podium to celebrate the efforts of the author, Yakubu.
Speaking at the occasion, Olujinmi (SAN) who claimed that he stole out of a meeting of paramount importance to witness the public presentation of the book said: “Today offers us a unique opportunity for the public presentation of Nigerian Laws on Public Finance, totaling 196 extant laws, spanning a period of 86 years, ranging from 1916-2002
“A research that covers so many years is indeed a monumental task. To have carried it out to its logical conclusion is a commendable effort
“What makes the work even more relevant to us today is the fact that the government of President Olusegun Obasanjo is concerned and working assiduously on the laws of the federation.
“The activities of 419ers and other criminal elements in our society call for adequate surveillance and draconian measures to nip their ignoble escapades in the bud
“A country is known by its institutional frameworks which are there to uphold the moral ethics and core values that conduce to her viability, vitality and vivacity,” he added.
Contributing, the Chairman of the occasion, Gen Gowon commended the author (Yakubu), saying ““I note with interest that my administration was responsible for some 21 of the laws in the book, from 1966-1975, an average of 2.33 laws per annum
“I am also delighted to note the acknowledgment by the author and others that some of these laws form the major corner stones in the Nigerian economic terrain
“Be that as it may, a country and its economy are continuously evolving and developing and this necessitates periodic, new, sound, economic law reviews and reforms.
“This book, to my mind’s eye, provides that legal platform for such reviews . It will also be a useful tool and reference in analyzing the legal basis of both the previous and current economic programmes,” he added. On his part, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and reviewer of the book, Dr Alex Izinyon said ““the book, “Nigerian Laws on Public Finance” is a legal encyclopaedia of laws on public finance in Nigeria. “The author has used this compilation medium to point out critical shortcomings in our laws. He posited that there are serious legal lacunae between law in the books and laws in reality,” he said.
