Buhari serves notice, says trial of those who stole public funds set to begin

President Muhammadu Buhari said Tuesday in Abuja that the prosecution of persons who stole national resources will begin in a matter of weeks.

Speaking at a meeting with members of the National Peace Committee led by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar in the Presidential Villa, President Buhari declared that his administration was irrevocably committed to doing all within its powers to break the vicious cycle of corruption, unemployment and insecurity in Nigeria.

“Nigeria has to break this vicious cycle before we can make progress,” Femi Adesina, special adviser on media and publicity, quoted the President as saying.

He added that his administration was diligently getting  facts and figures pertaining to the nation’s stolen funds, before proceeding to the prosecution of identified culprits.

President Buhari told Mr. Abdulsalami and members of his committee that the Federal Government, under his leadership, would not only ask for the return of  stolen funds stashed in foreign banks, but will also ensure that those who stole the funds are put on trial  in Nigeria.

The President also said that as part of its actions to address the national problems it inherited, his administration was reorganising Nigeria’s revenue generating institutions.

The President explained that a single treasury account had been established for all Federal revenue to ensure greater probity, transparency and accountability in the collection, disbursement and utilisation of national funds.

-Premium Times