Those who spoke to Punch, in reaction to the "interim" list of recovered funds and assets published by the Federal Government on Saturday, insisted that the names of those who returned their loot must be published to make the loot recovery process more transparent.
President Buhari had stated that,
“So far, what has come out; what has been recovered in whatever currency from each ministry, department and individual; I intend on the 29th to speak on these. This is because of all what Nigerians are getting from the mass media; because of the number of people arrested either by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission or Department of State Services. But we want to make a comprehensive report on the 29th.”
When asked whether he would also publish the names of the looters, Buhari replied, “Yes, eventually, it has to be done because we want to successfully prosecute them. But you know you cannot go to the courts unless you have documents for prosecution. People signed for these monies into their personal accounts.”
When Government released the list on Saturday, it had only the details of funds and assets recovered and those pending locally and internationally. No name of any of those from whom the funds and assets were recovered was mentioned.
The failure to name the looters had generated widespread reactions from members of the public.
The Nigerian Bar Association urged the President to keep his promise by releasing the names of looters. The NBA President, Augustine Alegeh (SAN), said the revelation is important for citizens to gain closure.
He said, “For us, it is always important that the promises our leaders make to the people are kept. I believe that if there is any legal impediment that prevents the President, who is a forthright person, from keeping a promise he has made to the Nigerian people, he should let Nigerians know.
“It is also important that we know the quantum of recoveries made from various persons so that it will be something that is known to every Nigerian and there would be no challenge. How did you arrive at the figures that are out there if you don’t put not just names but reasons (to the recovered loots)?
“Tomorrow, you could hear that (after) all the amounts that Mr. ‘A’ or Mr. ‘B’ looted, nothing was done. You could also start to hear that the loot recovery was only targeted at those who weren’t supporting the president.”
Alegeh said the only instance where the President could withhold names was if there was a legal obstacle.
According to him, there are certain transactions with confidentiality clauses, which make it impossible for government to release the names. He said, should the government find itself in such an instance, it should say so clearly.
Respected human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, dismissed the amount the government said it had recovered as far less than the true amount.
Falane (SAN), said: “Let me tell you this: That list is not correct. I know that the EFCC has recovered about $3.1bn. I think this is just the report from a department; it is not a comprehensive one.
“The figure announced has not taken cognizance of the totality of the fund that has been recovered by all the anti-graft agencies. From the information at my disposal, the figure announced by the information minister is a fraction of what the EFCC has recovered and deposited in the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
When asked whether he would also publish the names of the looters, Buhari replied, “Yes, eventually, it has to be done because we want to successfully prosecute them. But you know you cannot go to the courts unless you have documents for prosecution. People signed for these monies into their personal accounts.”
When Government released the list on Saturday, it had only the details of funds and assets recovered and those pending locally and internationally. No name of any of those from whom the funds and assets were recovered was mentioned.
The failure to name the looters had generated widespread reactions from members of the public.
The Nigerian Bar Association urged the President to keep his promise by releasing the names of looters. The NBA President, Augustine Alegeh (SAN), said the revelation is important for citizens to gain closure.
He said, “For us, it is always important that the promises our leaders make to the people are kept. I believe that if there is any legal impediment that prevents the President, who is a forthright person, from keeping a promise he has made to the Nigerian people, he should let Nigerians know.
“It is also important that we know the quantum of recoveries made from various persons so that it will be something that is known to every Nigerian and there would be no challenge. How did you arrive at the figures that are out there if you don’t put not just names but reasons (to the recovered loots)?
“Tomorrow, you could hear that (after) all the amounts that Mr. ‘A’ or Mr. ‘B’ looted, nothing was done. You could also start to hear that the loot recovery was only targeted at those who weren’t supporting the president.”
Alegeh said the only instance where the President could withhold names was if there was a legal obstacle.
According to him, there are certain transactions with confidentiality clauses, which make it impossible for government to release the names. He said, should the government find itself in such an instance, it should say so clearly.
Respected human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, dismissed the amount the government said it had recovered as far less than the true amount.
Falane (SAN), said: “Let me tell you this: That list is not correct. I know that the EFCC has recovered about $3.1bn. I think this is just the report from a department; it is not a comprehensive one.
“The figure announced has not taken cognizance of the totality of the fund that has been recovered by all the anti-graft agencies. From the information at my disposal, the figure announced by the information minister is a fraction of what the EFCC has recovered and deposited in the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
INFO-GRAPHICS OF RECOVERED LOOT:
Falana added that in order not to discourage more looters from returning stolen funds, the Federal Government might not want to name the looters yet.
He praised the government, saying “In fact, some of the looters who have stolen the bulk of the missing money, who are on the run, are being pursued in different jurisdictions in the world.”po
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