Looters Have Started Returning Stolen Money Voluntarily – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari during his
working visit in Iran has disclosed that
some treasury looters have commenced
returning stolen money voluntarily.
Meanwhile, the president stated that he
was not pleased yet as his administration
would stop at nothing to confirm all stolen
funds and not a fraction was returned.
The president revealed this during a
communicating session he had with
members of the Nigerian community living
in Iran.
The Nigerian leader didn’t list the names of
the former government officials who have
so far returned parts of stolen assets.
Buhari also did not reveal how much had
so far been returned to Nigeria’s treasury.
The president stated 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.
He said: “ On corruption; yes, they (the
past government officials) are still
innocent.
“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 also 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
noted.
“ 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.
Nigeria and other GECF members now
account for 42 % of global gas production,
70 % of global gas reserves, 40 % of
pipeline transmission of gas and 65 % of
the global trade in Liquefied Natural Gas.
President Buhari is expected back to
Nigeria on November 24, Tuesday.