The Russian Federation has called on Nigeria to deepen law enforcement cooperation by expediting the signing and ratification of pending bilateral agreements, enabling both countries to jointly tackle unlawful and criminal activities involving their citizens.
The appeal was made by the Russian Embassy in Nigeria in an official statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, following allegations by the Edo State Government that a Nigerian citizen residing in Russia was financing recent protests in the state with the aim of discrediting the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The protests, led mainly by youths, focused on rising insecurity, particularly the persistent threat of kidnapping across Edo State.
On Tuesday, January 13, Patrick Ebojele, Press Secretary to the Governor, claimed that the unrest in Ekpoma, which involved student demonstrations was being funded from abroad by a Nigerian national based in Russia.
In response, the Russian Embassy’s media department addressed the allegation directly:“We noted the recent statement by Patrick Ebojele, the Press Secretary of the Governor of Edo State, made on January 13 this year regarding student protests in Ekpoma, which, in particular, refers to the alleged involvement of a Nigerian citizen living in Russia in financing riots aimed at discrediting the government of Edo State.”
The embassy emphasised that effective investigation of such cross-border claims would require stronger legal frameworks between the two nations.
It specifically highlighted two draft agreements currently under consideration by the Nigerian authorities:An agreement between the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation and the Federal Ministry of Justice of Nigeria.
An agreement on cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Interior of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Additionally, the embassy recalled that an Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between Russia and Nigeria was signed in 2018 but has not entered into force due to non-ratification by the Nigerian side.
“In this regard, we draw attention to the fact that the drafts of two Russian–Nigerian agreements are currently under consideration by the Nigerian side, the signing of which would help to investigate any unlawful activities of Nigerian citizens in cooperation with Russian law enforcement agencies,” the statement said.“
"We hope that work on these documents will proceed at a faster pace so that closer ties can be established between the designated agencies of Russia and Nigeria to prevent unlawful and criminal activities."
The Russian Embassy’s statement underscores Moscow’s desire for enhanced bilateral security and judicial cooperation amid growing people-to-people ties and increasing movement of citizens between the two countries.
Nigeria and Russia have maintained diplomatic relations for decades, with cooperation spanning energy, education, defence, and trade.
The call for accelerated legal agreements reflects a shared interest in addressing transnational crime, including financial misconduct, cyber-enabled offences, and other cross-border threats.
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