We’ve Recovered Trillions Of Naira Stolen From Nigeria – Buhari

BY SIMON REEF MUSA, ABUJA – President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday disclosed that his administration has recovered stolen money running into trillions of naira and denied insinuations from some quarters that his anti-graft war was a witch-hunt targeted at some particular persons.
Speaking when he commissioned the newly built headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja, the President said, “Since 2015, we have made significant progress in the fight against corruption. Everyone now knows that corrupt officials will be held to account, no matter how long it takes.
“We have recovered and are still recovering trillions of naira that were stolen in the past few years by people without conscience.
“We are pursuing recoveries everywhere and are making sure that anyone who has been found culpable is made to answer for his or her crime under the law.”
The President expressed happiness that many countries have signified interest to assist the country in not only tightening the laws, but also help Nigeria to repatriate stolen and make culprits face the law.
“We are committed to working with our foreign friends to stop the inflow of stolen funds from Nigeria into their countries and recovering what is there already. These assets, when repatriated will be put to building our infrastructure,” Buhari said.
He maintained that his government was committed in ensuring the protection of public trust in which the anti-corruption war is at the centre, adding, “We never intended, and we are not engaged in witch-hunts, but we are determined within the laws to call people to account.”
The President said that for development to be attained, there was need to rid the country of corruption and expressed the hope that the war against graft will be successful and the Nigerian society will be better for it.
Calling on the judiciary, which he described as a critical stakeholder and partner in the war against corruption, Buhari appealed to the legislative arm of government to provide the legal framework for the anti-corruption war to add more verve to the determination of government to rid the country of brazen corruption.
He noted that the new EFCC headquarters was not only a structure of concrete and metal, but also an edifice symbolizing the resolve of Nigerians to fight corruption, saying, “We must change our ways of handling public trust. Corruption not only kills governments but destroys societies. It is the major reason why we are struggling with basic developmental issues that other comparable nations have long overcome.”