How Buhari Govt Recovered N264b Stolen Funds In 4 Years – Malami Tells U.S Gathering

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has disclosed how President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s anti-corruption crusade helped fast-track the recovery of about N264,727,528,846, equivalent of millions of foreign currencies looted some years back.

He made the statement on Monday while presenting the 2021 annual public lecture in New York, United States at an event organized by the Centre for Media and Peace Initiative.

The AGF explained that it took political will, funding, legislations, institutional support and Executive Orders by President Buhari for the federal government to achieve such feat between 2017 and 2020.

He said, “Various steps have been taken in terms of legislative frameworks, establishment of institutions and policy measures targeted at combatting corruption, regional corporation and ensuring good governance for the benefit of citizens.

“In 2017, the signing of a trilateral Agreement with Switzerland and World Bank enabled the recovery of $322.515million.

“In 2020 a total sum of $311.7million was returned to Nigeria after signing another trilateral agreement with the U.S.A and Bailiwick of Jersey.

“Also in the year 2020, 5.4million Euros was recovered in March emanating from an agreement signed with Northern Island. The Federal Government was able to recover from UK the sum of €4,214,017.66 connected to the family of James Ibori.”

He said additional recoveries to the tune of $200million were being anticipated subject to the settlement of litigations.

Malami said that the Buhari administration’s asset recovery strategy is worthy enough to serve as a template for other African countries.

Speaking further, the AGF said that the current administration was dealing heavily with corruption in public service irrespective of who was involved.

He said the fact that indicted individuals within the president’s political party (All Progressive Congress) were not spared from prosecution is proof of Buhari’s transparency in the anti-corruption fight.

“I am pleased to inform this gathering that the Federal Government of Nigeria has recovered funds from corporate bodies and individuals through the combined efforts of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and our Law Enforcement Agencies through local and international collaboration with international community and adoption of strategies put in place.

“Currently, high profile personalities including judicial officers and former governors indicted for corruption have been or are being prosecuted. We have some former top government officials convicted and serving various jail terms for corruption related crimes while in office,” he said as quoted in a statement by his Spokesperson, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu.