ANEEJ Lauds FG Asset Recovery Stance

By Alltimepost.com

Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for setting the tone of his administration’s commitment to recover all monies looted or embezzled during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Buhari had recently, in his first official pronouncement since assumption of Office in Aso Rock Villa, and first meeting with 36 state governors made it loud and clear that those who stole Nigeria’s money would not go scot-free.

The president had expressed his administration’s commitment and plan to work assiduously with international partners to recover Nigeria’s assets stashed abroad.

In its reaction to Buhari’s pronouncement, The African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), an organization working in close collaboration with the Nigeria Network on Stolen Assets, (NNSA), on Wednesday in Abuja saluted the president’s courage to fight the financial crime.

The organization however averred in the message, released by its Executive Director, Rev. David Ugolor, that the efforts to recover stolen funds would be an exercise in futility without the relevant laws to firm up the campaign in that direction.

“We therefore call on President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency sign the Proceeds of Crime Bill (POCA) passed by the 7th National Assembly into law to send the right signal of government preparedness to match words with action,” Ugolor said.

The Federal government, he added, must first of all strengthen the capacity of anti-corruption agencies to fight corruption before inviting international partners.

Ugolor urged the Federal government to work with the 8th National Assembly to ensure that all inconsistencies associated with the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) Bill which seeks to smoothen the legal framework for international collaboration in criminal matters and Whistle Blowers’ Protection Bill are resolved.

He also advised the government to make sure that any other bills needed to prosecute government’s looted assets recovery plan are resolved as soon as possible and get the National Assembly to pass them into law, regretting that the 7th Assembly could not pass them into law before it wound up.

“The POCA was among those passed by the 7th National Assembly. It seeks to recover all funds stolen, together with proceeds accruable from such stolen wealth.

The recent discovery of $320 million dollars Abacha loot in Luxemburg is related to the advocacy campaigns being carried out by ANEEJ,” Ugolor posited.

To avoid the charge of selectiveness, he continued, the Federal government may want to be decisive and firm and across board, and not recognize any sacred cows in the recovery of these funds.

“The commitment must be in line with his inauguration declaration to be for everybody and to be for nobody,” Ugolor advised.

“Together with our partners the NNSA, ANEEJ reiterates its pledge to collaborate with the Nigerian government effort to halt the impunity with which public funds are spent for personal enrichment”

ANEEJ has been in the forefront of the fight to recover the country’s looted assets, and has worked tirelessly with international partners to engender a culture of good governance, poverty alleviation and anti-corruption.

ANEEJ has been consistent with asking the Federal government to repudiate the deal reached between the direct beneficiaries of the Abacha loot and the Federal government.