By Sadiq Umar – The United States government has reiterated its determination to assist Nigeria trace and recover looted public funds starched in the banks in the US and other countries, even as it praised President Muhammadu Buhari on the progress made in the war on terror.
US Secretary of State, John Kerry, made the pledge on Thursday in Washington DC noted that the Buhari led government in Nigeria is genuinely committed to anti-corruption, assuring that the US is prepared to work with the anti-graft agency in Nigeria to recover the funds running into “billions of dollars”.
President Buhari had told Kerry that, “It will greatly help our country if you assist us to recover all our stolen funds which we can establish to be within your financial system.”
Kerry assured that he had learned that the money stolen from the country ran into “billions of dollars” and that the country’s officials were ready to work with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in find and return the stolen funds.
“It’s not easy to hide that amount of money and we are pretty good in tracing them,” he said.
The Buhari administration since its inauguration in May 29, 2015 has embarked on anti-corruption campaign leading to startling revelations of corrupt enrichment by public officials.
Several former officials, who are believed to have siphoned public funds, have been charged to court and are now facing trials.
Also, some have accused the administration of selective trial and that the fight tilted towards members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and officials of that administration
Notable among them is the immediate past national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who is facing charges of misappropriating $2.1 billion dollar meant for the procurement of arms for the armed forces to fight the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast.
Meanwhile, the US has hailed the Buhari administration in curtailing Boko Haram, said the U.S. will not relent in giving Nigeria all possible support to make sure that the terrorists are completely defeated.
He, however, said the Nigerian military should do more to respect the human rights of the people within the its theatre of operation.
Buhari thanked the US for its support in the fight, against Boko Haram, saying the government was doing everything to make sure life returns to normal in the northeast.
“Boko Haram no longer holds any local government area. We are reconstructing damaged facilities and preparing the police to take over and reassert civilian control over areas affected by the insurgency,” he said.
