President Muhammadu Buhari some treasury looters have commenced
returning stolen money voluntarily.
Speaking during a communication session with the Nigerian Community in
Iran, Buhari said that he was not pleased yet as his administration
would stop at nothing to confirm all stolen funds and not a fraction
was returned.
President Buhari didn’t list the names of the former government
officials who have so far returned parts of stolen assets; neither did
he reveal how much had so far been returned to Nigeria’s treasury.
He said that unlike what was appropriate in 1985 when he was a
military head of state that suspects could be imprisoned while being
probed, democracy and rule of law do not encourage that.
“On corruption; yes, they (the past government officials) are still
innocent,” he said.
“But, we are collecting documents and some of them have started
voluntarily returning something. But we want all.
“When we get those documents, we will formally charge them to court
and then we will tell Nigerians to know those who abused trust when
they are entrusted with public funds. So, the day of reckoning is
gradually approaching.”
President Buhari pledged to deal conclusively with saboteurs who are
destroying pipelines and stealing crude oil.
“I believe if you are in touch back at home, you would have been told
that already there is some improvement in power,” he said.
“We haven’t said anything to them yet. I think they only find it
sensible or appropriate for them to try and improve the power.
“I’m sure you know about the privatisation of the power sector; your
old friends NEPA or Power Holding Company of Nigeria have been sold to
a number of interest groups.
“Those who normally steal Nigerian crude and those who blow up
installations, whether they call themselves militants or whatever,
they are still there,” he said