Whistleblowers aid recovery of US$151m, N8bn – FG
The Federal Government said its policy on whistle-blowing has started yielding results as it recovered US$151 million and N8billion in looted funds so far.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed this in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday.
Alhaji Mohammed said the looted funds, did not include the $9.2 million in cash allegedly owned by a former Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Andrew Yakubu also said to be recovered through a whistle-blower.
He said the funds “were recovered from just three sources through whistle-blowers who gave actionable information to the office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation.”
According to the statement, the biggest amount of $136,676,600.51 was recovered from an account in a commercial bank, where the money was kept under a fake account name, followed by N7billion and $15 million and another N1billion from different persons.
The Minister reminded Nigerians of the financial reward aspect of the policy, saying “If there is a voluntary return of stolen or concealed public funds or assets on the account of the information provided, the whistle blower may be entitled to anywhere between 2.5% (Minimum) and 5.0% (Maximum) of the total amount recovered.”
