Llop signs three international legal cooperation treaties with Nigeria

The Minister for Justice, Pilar Llop, and her Nigerian counterpart, Abubakar Malami, have signed three key international treaties for legal cooperation between the two countries. The agreement was signed on Wednesday, during the visit to Spain of a Nigerian delegation led by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, who held a meeting with the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez.

These three treaties concerning criminal legal assistance, extradition and the transfer of sentenced persons are an effective tool for dealing with international crime in all its manifestations. The signing of these agreements boosts bilateral relations between the two countries in the justice sector; agreements that Llop considers "almost historic, because we did not have treaties of these characteristics with this country".

In the words of the Minister for Justice, these three treaties "will make it possible to fight more effectively against organised crime, mafias and human traffickers, because we know that many victims are recruited in Nigeria". This commitment, according to Llop, "shows that we are countries that have the clear intention to fight the criminals and allow the victims to recover".

With regard to the two treaties on criminal judicial assistance and extradition, both are tools that provide Spanish judges with a solid legal basis, with full guarantees, for obtaining and validating evidence to be obtained in Nigeria. They also allow for the surrender of persons who have escaped from justice and are located in this African country.

The treaty on the transfer of sentenced persons is of no less importance, as it will allow Spaniards sentenced to prison in Nigeria to return to finish serving their sentence in Spain, favouring their social reintegration.

In addition to these treaties on justice, other important agreements have been reached on issues such as energy, security and migration, scientific research and innovation, health, sport and tourism, in this meeting between the President of the Government of Spain and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Both leaders confirmed their understanding of the current international situation, renewing their acknowledgement of mutual strategic interests. This has been embodied in the Joint Declaration, whereby the two countries have decided to deepen their bilateral relations and cooperation.

Non official translation