…as FG expects $500m Abacha loot from UK, U.S, France, others
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday urged Nigerians to stop glorifying thieves but should treat them with disdain for bringing hardships on others.
Buhari said this in a Sallah message made available to journalists by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, to mark the end of Ramadan.
“He (Buhari) also urged ordinary Nigerians to stop glorifying thieves by treating them with disdain for bringing hardships on others,” the statement said.
The President also thanked Nigerians for their patience with his administration, saying reforming a country that was pushed into near decay on account of corruption would come with teething pains.
He, however, assured them that their pains were temporary.
Buhari further told Nigerians that their sacrifices would not be in vain.
“These pains are temporary. The APC administration which I am privileged to lead is beholden to the ordinary Nigerians and will leave no stone unturned to make their security, welfare and happiness our priority,” the President said.
Meanwhile, Nigeria will soon repatriate another $500 million which late Sani Abacha looted and locked up in other countries.
This is in addition to the $322 million recovered from Switzerland in 2017.
The monies are expected to be repatriated from the UK, US, France and other countries, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, said on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.
“Nigeria has engaged other countries, including the UK, US, France and others, in further negotiations relating to repatriation.
”I am happy to report that we are almost concluding the processes relating to the repatriation of additional $500 million,” Malami said.
“You will recall that in December 2017, the federal government participated in a global forum on asset recovery in Washington DC during which Nigeria and Switzerland signed an agreement that paved the way for the repatriation of $322 million.”
“What transpired was only reported back to the council today. The report today was not only about the signing of the agreement but the report of the eventual repatriation of the amount of money that was signed and agreed to be repatriated during the forum”. – Punch, The News.
