Treasury looters for trial soon, says Buhari
Former Head of State and Chairman, 2015 Election Peace Committee, Gen. Abubakar Abdulsalami (left); Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; President Muhammadu Buhari; Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, National President, Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; Cardinal John Onaiyekan and others, during a courtesy visit by the National Peace Committee at State House, Abuja …yesterday PH0TO: PHILIP OJISUA
National Peace Committee prescribes due process
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has given assurance that prosecution of those who stole the nation’s resources would begin in a matter of weeks.
His spokesman, Femi Adesina, in a statement yesterday, quoted the President as speaking at a meeting with members of the National Peace Committee led by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar at Aso Villa, Abuja.
The meeting, held behind closed doors, lasted for about one and a half hours. Also in attendance were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III, Metropolitan Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Diocese, John Cardinal Onayeikan; Primate of Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh; President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Dr. Mathew Hassan Kukah.
Others were Senator Ben Ndi Obi; Mrs. Priscilla Kuye; Vanguard publisher, Sam Amuka-Pemu, Prof. Amaze Guobadia and Mr. Yunusa Tanko, National Chairman, National Conscience Party (NCP) as well as his All Progressives Congress (APC), counterpart, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
According to the statement, Buhari declared that his administration was irrevocably committed to doing all within its powers to break the jinx of corruption, unemployment and insecurity in Nigeria. “Nigeria has to break this vicious cycle before we can make progress,” the President said, adding that his administration was diligently getting facts and figures pertaining to the nation’s stolen funds, before proceeding to the prosecution of identified culprits. “President Buhari told his guests that the government, under his leadership, would not only ask for the return of stolen funds that have been stashed in foreign banks, but will also ensure that those who stole the funds are put on trial in Nigeria.”
The President also said that as part of actions to address the national problems his government inherited, his administration was reorganising Nigeria’s revenue generating institutions.
He explained that a single treasury account had been established for all Federal revenue to ensure greater probity, transparency and accountability in the collection, disbursement and utilisation of national funds. “We have really degenerated as a country.
Our national institutions, including the military, which did wonderfully on foreign missions in the past, have been compromised. But we are doing something about it.
The military is now retraining and morale has been resuscitated. “As Petroleum minister under Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo in the 1970s, I could not travel abroad until I had taken a memo to the Federal Executive Council asking for estacode. Now, everybody does what he wants.
That is why security-wise and economically, we are in trouble,” the President said. Speaking to State House correspondents at the behest of Gen. Abubakar, Kukah said the meeting harped on the need to stabilise the polity after the March and April general elections which Buhari won at the expense of Jonathan.
The cleric denied media reports that the meeting was prompted by reports that Jonathan had complained to Abubakar about alleged harassment of officials who served in his government by the present administration in the prosecution of the war against corruption.
He said contrary to reports that Jonathan reached out to the committee to intervene, Kukah said: “Anybody is free to come to our committee, but President Jonathan never, either by telephone or any other means, sought to see the committee.
We went to see him after we had already seen members of the political parties and a few members of the civil society. “So this essentially, is just to hear everybody out.
The good news is that Nigerians are committed to a new nation, we are committed to ensuring that the gains and the blessings God has given come to fruition. ‘‘ What we had in the elections was like a wedding, the reality of governance is the marriage, and people need to be encouraged and we need to reaffirm that this is our country.
The only thing we can collectively be opposed to is injustice, iniquity, corruption and we all had one single conversation. “I’m happy the President also reaffirmed the need for this committee to continue and the international community has very much welcomed its contributions. Essentially we are not policing, but when the need arises we help to build confidence.”
On insinuations that Buhari administration’s stance on corruption could heat up of the polity, Kukah said: “It is not heating up the polity.
In our conversation with President Jonathan and members of the political parties, I don’t think any Nigerian is in favour of corruption or is against the President’s commitment to ensuring that we turn a new leaf. “I think what we are concerned about is the process.
It is no longer a military regime and under our existing laws everybody is innocent until proved guilty. Again our own commitment is not to intimidate or fight anybody.
The former President’s commitment and what he did still remains spectacular and I think that President Buhari himself appreciates that.’’
A source at the meeting had told The Guardian in confidence that Jonathan had indeed complained to the committee about what he referred to as the selective nature of Buhari’s war against graft.
The source said Jonathan made it clear he would have preferred all previous administrations being subjected to the probe rather than the present situation where only his administration is the target for probe.
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31 Comments
May l asked how Nigerian Elite form a committe? There are only few women among them and it is very sad that Nigerian men still have this old century mentality and not allow women to be fully represented everywhere.
The committee represents the interest of Nigeria and not of men or women apart. Avoid gender tribalism and look at the bigger picture. Please.
Diezani and Okonjo Iweala put us in this current mess. You want to join them?
We have better women in Nigeria that can represent us and it should not be men dominating everywhere. All men comes out of women.
It is so sad when our so-called religious leaders start lying openly. Imagine Kukah saying Jonathan never contacted the commitee yet source at the meeting had told The Guardian in confidence that Jonathan had indeed complained to the committee about what he referred to as the selective nature of Buhari’s war against graft. Na wa o. These busy bodies should just stay out of this anti-corruption war because they don’t have followers anymore as corruption has made them loose their credibility. Let them remain in their religious domains and face their businesses while Buhari faces governance.
If you must start judgement and fight against corruption start from your house; afterall charity begins at home. Unfortunately, People like Abdulsalami who throng around the President is said to have stolen over $7 billion, all those around Buhari APC cohorts should all have background check done and if corrupt should be dealt with. No sacred cows. If not no one will take the fight of PMB corruption serious.
Ha haa…$7b again? These thieves should not give somebody hypertension o. No wonder Abdusalam quickly gathered his ‘colleagues’ to go and beg Buhari to give them soft-landing. He heee
You are a liar!
I agree but how about you? Before you crucify me pls read today’s guardian from where I extracted some of those statements. Thank you.
So who do we believe; Kukah that expressed his opinion openly or a rumour monger called ‘unnamed source’?
I would have love to see General Gowon in this Committee. He never owns a Castle on the Top of a Mountain or Hill as the fashion is now or owns Oil License by proxy . His utterances in prevailing political atmosphere is elderly and as much fatherly …
This shows that our so-call Leaders were nothing but day light vampire. Now that Jonathan met Buhari in the night I suspected that things didn’t went well between the two of them that night as Obasanjo followed then comes our wise men of the DARK also followed. Could you imagine seen all the previous Leaders Dead or alive including our Messaih Buhari standing trial for all sorts of crimes? I would love to see them the so Elites in KIRI KIRI. UYAAAAAYAAAA.
If the trials should be carried out by the current EFCC, then hope is totally lost!
THEN GOODLUCK JONATHAN, PATIENCE JONATHAN, DEZIANI, NGOZI, ETC AND YOUR GANG OF VERY MASSIVE, VERY RECKLESS AND VERY OBSCENE LOOTERS, YOU CAN ONLY RUN BUT YOU CAN NOT HIDE. WE WILL LOOK FOR YOU AND FLUSH YOU OUT ANY WHERE IN THIS PLANET AND MAKE YOU RETURN ALL THE STOLEN LOOTS AND FACE THE LAW AND JUSTICE OF THE LAND. EVERY DAY IS FOR THE THIEF BUT ONE DAY IS FOR THE OWNER WE THE PEOPLE QED AND END OF STORY
Saint Agbobu has spoken.
TELL WE THE PEOPLE HOW GOODLUCK JONATHAN GOT 500 MILLION DOLLARS TO ESTABLISH THE FARM IN ABUJA/ TELL US HOW PATIENCE JONATHAN ACQUIRED THE BUNKERING VESSEL ‘MV PATIENCE’ USED TO CARRY CARRY STOLEN CRUDE? TELL US WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STOLEN 20 BILLION DOLLARS FROM THE CBN AS EXPOSED BY THE THEN GOVERNOR OF THE CBN SANUSI AND WHICH LED TO HIS REMOVAL AS THE CBN GOVERNOR. TELL US WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CRUDE OIL EXCESS ACCOUNT AND WHO AUTHORISED THE UNLAWFUL WITHDRAWALS. TELL US WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FOREIGN RESERVE THAT WAS ALMOST HALVED IN A SPACE OF ONE YEAR UNDER GOODLUCK JONATHAN. TELL US ABOUT THE ILLEGAL OIL SWAPS AND THOSE THAT BENEFITED FROM THEM. TELL US ABOUT MASSIVE FUEL IMPORT SUBSIDIES AND THOSE WHO BENEFITED FROM THEM. TELL US ABOUT THE OVER BLOATED CONTRACTS THAT WERE NOT EXECUTED BUT ALL THE MONEY COLLECTED AND THOSE BEHIND IT. TELL US ABOUT ALL THOSE STEALING OUR CRUDE OIL WILL GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND HIS GANG LOOKED TO OTHER WAY. TELL US ABOUT THE OBSCENE IMPUNITY, SHAMELESS RECKLESS AND I DO NOT CARE TYPE OF ATTITUDE THAT WERE THE NORMS IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF GOODLUCK JONATHAN.. IT GOES ON AND ON. IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF GOODLUCK JONATHAN WE HAD FIVE PRESIDENTS, PATIENCE, DEZIANI, NGOZI, AGBUA AND JONATHAN WHO WAS THE WEAKEST. PLEASE STOP DEFENDING THE WORST ENEMY OF NIGERIA AND NIGERIANS GOODLUCK JONATHAN, PATIENCE JONATHAN AND THEIR GANGS.
Please agbobu….when you are mentioning the list of looters…don’t forget to add Mr. Tinubu, Saraki, IBB, and the other men who every right thinking Nigerian know beyond every reasonable doubt have impoverished the nation…How did these men become so incredibly and preposterously rich? Is on the basis of their income as public servants…or on the basis of their gratuity or by some miraculous ritual…?
Honestly…please educate me…and we will pass them over…
If Mr President is serious in his corruption fight, let him form his government and monitor their activities with strict instruction. All these talk about trying so called thieves of previous administration is nothing but witch hunting intended to destroy opposition party through the support of OBJ. Buhari and APC want to destroy PDP so there is no opposition in Nigeria again, the end result no man can foretell.
The probes are welcome. But it must not be selective. The President needs to prove honesty of purpose in the fight against corruption for all of us to queue behind him. How can we talk about probe without first dealing with, and prosecuting those involved in, the biggest corruptions that painted Nigeria the most before the international community as a rogue nation – Halliburton and Siemens ? It is unbelievable that the President of Nigeria will be talking of prosecuting corrupt people whilst, in Aso Rock, persons who help him to receive and see off visitors to state house are persons who raped and vandalized some states of our federation.
up Buhari no going back.
Deceits and showmanship, all sound and fury.
as long as we follow due process in all these probes. my problem is not the probing, it is the fact that we are only speaking of recovering the looted funds and putting people on trial. we need to figure out how to end the looting, how to ensure it doesn’t happen again. we need to change and close all avenues to this corrupt pratice.
If the people of the Niger Delta love their oil with the same kind of love that outsiders love it, the Niger Delta would have been free by now. People talk about oil rich Nigeria as though every state in Nigeria produces oil!
To be tried by the same old, corrupt unrestructured judiciary ? Lets wait for this magic
TELL WE THE PEOPLE HOW GOODLUCK JONATHAN GOT 500 MILLION DOLLARS TO ESTABLISH THE FARM IN ABUJA/ TELL US HOW PATIENCE JONATHAN ACQUIRED THE BUNKERING VESSEL ‘MV PATIENCE’ USED TO CARRY CARRY STOLEN CRUDE? TELL US WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STOLEN 20 BILLION DOLLARS FROM THE CBN AS EXPOSED BY THE THEN GOVERNOR OF THE CBN SANUSI AND WHICH LED TO HIS REMOVAL AS THE CBN GOVERNOR. TELL US WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CRUDE OIL EXCESS ACCOUNT AND WHO AUTHORISED THE UNLAWFUL WITHDRAWALS. TELL US WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FOREIGN RESERVE THAT WAS ALMOST HALVED IN A SPACE OF ONE YEAR UNDER GOODLUCK JONATHAN. TELL US ABOUT THE ILLEGAL OIL SWAPS AND THOSE THAT BENEFITED FROM THEM. TELL US ABOUT MASSIVE FUEL IMPORT SUBSIDIES AND THOSE WHO BENEFITED FROM THEM. TELL US ABOUT THE OVER BLOATED CONTRACTS THAT WERE NOT EXECUTED BUT ALL THE MONEY COLLECTED AND THOSE BEHIND IT. TELL US ABOUT ALL THOSE STEALING OUR CRUDE OIL WILL GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND HIS GANG LOOKED TO OTHER WAY. TELL US ABOUT THE OBSCENE IMPUNITY, SHAMELESS RECKLESS AND I DO NOT CARE TYPE OF ATTITUDE THAT WERE THE NORMS IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF GOODLUCK JONATHAN.. IT GOES ON AND ON. IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF GOODLUCK JONATHAN WE HAD FIVE PRESIDENTS, PATIENCE, DEZIANI, NGOZI, AGBUA AND JONATHAN WHO WAS THE WEAKEST. PLEASE STOP DEFENDING THE WORST ENEMY OF NIGERIA AND NIGERIANS GOODLUCK JONATHAN, PATIENCE JONATHAN AND THEIR GANGS.
The problem is that they are stealing these monies and it is not channeled into the local economy…They are not using it to generate employment…or benefit the ordinary masses…They are stashed away abroad…while the same citizens they stole from continue to slave for them as drivers, cooks at a pittance…and during elections they hire thugs to the violate process which again, will not benefit the citizen but benefits the criminals..I mean is this how politics is played by the so called whiteman who contrived democracy? I mean its a no win situation for ordinary Nigerians.
At least the westerner has a little iota of love for his country, and then for his party…These guys have nil love for the nation…all their allegiance is to their kleptomaniac self and to their ritualists…and fraternal cults…
Nigerians have been traumatized by these people…
What are we advocating…Honestly, Perhaps it is time for us to consider the restructure of Nigeria… There is something fundamentally wrong with the structure of Nigeria as it is, I have to confess…As long as Nigeria is left the way it is, it will continue to benefit a few people…Mr. Buhari is almost 80…Obasanjo the self acclaimed messiah of Nigeria is about to be 80…The old war lords are passing and behind them are ferocious oligarchs that we all know…The future is not bright for Nigeria as it is…
To be warned is to be armed….
May God help us.
AND THIS SAGAY SAYS CONFESS, TELL AND EVERY THING NO HOLE BARRED, RETURN ALL STOLEN AND LOOTED MONEY THEN WE CAN FACTOR THEM IN WHEN PASSING SENTENCES FOR YOUR VERY SERIOUS CRIME AGAINST NIGERIA AND NIGERIANS. WELL THE PEOPLE SAY MAY CONSIDER THAT OPTIONS IF THEY ARE DONE NOW WITHOUT ANY OTHER COST OR PAIN TO US
GOVERNMENTS CREATE AN ENABLING ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT FOR THE SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE INDUSTRIES TO CREATE GOOD PAYING JOBS, EXPAND AND GROW THE ECONOMY AND THAT IS WHAT PRESIDENT BUHARI IS DOING, BY FIGHTING CORRUPTION, ENCOURAGING AGRICULTURE, MINING, REVAMPING THE REFINERIES, ASKING TO KNOW WHY THE MONEY OR LOAN FOR THE RAILWAY WAS PARTLY DIVERTED AND MUCH MORE.. PRESIDENT BUHARI HAS SHOWN THAT HE IS NOT ONLY A FIT AND PROPER PERSON FOR THE JOB, BUT HE HAS ALSO SHOWN THAT HE IS VERY WILLING, VERY ABLE AND VERY READY PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA. WHAT HE NEEDS IS THE SUPPORT, PRAYERS OF ALL OF US. THE ALMIGHTY GOD WILL ALWAYS GUIDE, PROTECT AND DIRECT PRESIDENT BUHARI.
Yes, we all yields for these let be sincerely to ourselves, these probe shouldn’t center on Jonathan administration alone.
SAGAY SAYS CONFESS, TELL AND EVERY THING NO HOLE BARRED, RETURN ALL STOLEN AND LOOTED MONEY THEN WE CAN FACTOR THEM IN WHEN PASSING SENTENCES FOR YOUR VERY SERIOUS CRIME AGAINST NIGERIA AND NIGERIANS. WELL THE PEOPLE SAY MAY CONSIDER THAT OPTIONS IF THEY ARE DONE NOW WITHOUT ANY OTHER COST OR PAIN TO US
A president of HOPE. I wish president Buhari good health and long live to fulfil his dream of at least reducing the rate of corruption and impunity in our society. The fact that PHD Jonathan accepted his defeat does not buy him free from eventual corruption charges. Nobody should be above the law.
We will review and take appropriate action.