Loot: CNPP says over $400bn still missing

Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has called on the Federal Government to initiate an action that will ensure the recovery of over $400 billion looted from the country’s treasury over the years.

Rising from a meeting in Enugu at the weekend, the CNPP said, “ whereas we applaud the recovery of fund looted by the late head of state, General Sani Abacha, we demand as a matter of urgent national importance that President Goodluck Jonathan  requests for blanket recovery of over $400 billion fleeced off our treasury in the last two decades.”

CNPP was reacting to the report by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke that the Federal Government had recovered about N5.5 billion ( 22.5 million British Pound) and that negotiation had reached an advanced stage to recover N36.7 billion (EUR 175 million) of Abacha looted fund.

The communiqué signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr Osita  Okechukwu, urged President Jonathan “to utilize the window opened by the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, which bound countries to render mutual legal assistance in gathering and transferring evidence and Chapter V of the Convention, which made asset recovery explicitly a fundamental principle of the Convention.

“Our investigation within the diplomatic circle shows that ex-president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo only requested for Abacha’s loot and turned blind eye to the other looters. We demand that a blanket request be made, for we need the billions of dollars to invest in critical infrastructure, revamp our decayed social services and stem gross unemployment.”

“The group frowned at “the selective approach in the loot recovery process, which looks more of a vindictive venture rather than a war against corruption. The selective approach sends wrong signals within and outside our shores. Therefore, we appeal for effective liaison and communication with targeted countries to hasten the pace of recovery of funds siphoned out of our treasury.”