Why we cannot arrest looters now – Buhari

Against complaints about the anti-corruption campaign of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the President has explained why it has appeared incapicitated in the bringing to book those suspected to have corruptly enriched themselves.

The President, who said his on Monday that his administration would follow due process and respect the rule of law in prosecting the war on corruption, said those suspected to have corrupted themselves could not be summarily arrested on mere suspicion in a democratic setting like under a military rule.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, stated this in a statement in Abuja, adding that the President said this while receiving a delegation from the Foursquare Gospel Church at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President, who restated his commitment to recovering all funds looted for government’s treasury, said his administration’s efforts in this regard would be fully within the ambit of the law.

“Under military rule, people could be arrested and held on the basis of suspicion, but in a true democracy, anyone accused of an offence must be presumed innocent till pronounced guilty by a court of law,” the President said.

According to Buhari, his administration was diligently building up its case against those accused of stealing government funds by getting necessary evidence and facts, before formal charges are brought against them.

The President congratulated the Foursquare Church in Nigeria on its 60th anniversary convention that was rounded off on Sunday.

General Overseer of the church, Rev. Felix Meduoye, commended the Buhari administration for its positive strides in the war against corruption and insurgency, adding that the church would continue to pray for the peace and prosperity of Nigeria.

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