CBN to publish names of those who returned looted money – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari, Friday, disclosed that the names of those who have returned portions of their loot to the coffers of the federal government will soon be made public.

According to the President, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was holding back from publishing the list so as to avoid jeopardising investigations and further recoveries.

President Buhari stated this while speaking at the 15th session of the Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation lecture at the International Conference Centre, in Abuja.

According to the President, during electioneering camapigns, the issue that gained “higher currency” in the psyche of the people was that Nigerians needed leadership that could be relied upon to tackle the orgy of corruption in the country.

“We have taken steps towards recovering a reasonable amount of the money that was looted or misappropriated from public coffers. Investigations are ongoing on public officers who served, or are still serving, and those whose conduct are questionable will be compelled to accept the path of honour and surrender their loot,” he said.

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“As I stated recently, a good number of people who abused their positions are voluntarily returning the illicit funds. I have heard it said that we should disclose the names of the people, and the amount returned. Yes, in due course, the Central Bank of Nigeria will make information available to the public on the surrendered funds, but I must remark that it is yet early days, and any disclosure now may jeopardize the possibility of bigger recoveries.

“But we owe Nigerians adequate information, and it shall come in due course. It is part of the collective effort to change our land from the bastion of corruption it currently is, to a place of probity and transparency.

“Quite frankly, the anti-corruption war is not strictly about me as a person, it is about building a country where our children, and the forthcoming generations, can live in peace and prosperity. When you see dilapidated infrastructure round the country, it is often the consequence of corruption.

“Poor healthcare, collapsed education, lack of public utilities, decayed social services, are all products of corruption, as those entrusted with public resources put them in their private pockets. That must stop, if we want a new Nigeria. And that was why I said at another forum that people need not fear me, but they must fear the consequences of their actions. Corrupt acts will always be punished, and there will be no friend, no foe. We will strive to do what is fair and just at all times, but people who refuse to embrace probity should have every cause to fear.”

President Buhari with Rt. Rev Dr. Mathew Hassan Kukah and Chief Ernest Shonekan as President Buhari participates as Keynote Speaker at the 15th Emmanuel Onyechere Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Lecture series at the International Conference Centre Abuja on 11th Dec 2015

President Buhari receiving Fellowship Plaque from Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari as President Buhari participates as Keynote Speaker at the 15th Emmanuel Onyechere Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Lecture series at the International Conference Centre Abuja on 11th Dec 2015

President Buhari receiving a presentation from Rt. Rev Dr. Mathew Hassan Kukah as Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari looks on as President Buhari participates as Keynote Speaker at the 15th Emmanuel Onyechere Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Lecture series at the International Conference Centre Abuja on 11th Dec 2015

President Buhari with Rt. Rev Dr. Mathew Hassan Kukah and family members of Late Emmanuel Onyechere Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe as President Buhari participates as Keynote Speaker at the 15th Emmanuel Onyechere Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Lecture series at the International Conference Centre Abuja on 11th Dec 2015

 

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