President Muhammadu Buhari said all unclaimed stolen assets recovered will be sold off and the proceeds deposited in the national treasury.
He vowed that he would not allow a repeat of what happened in the 1980s when buildings and other ill-gotten property seized by his military administration were returned to corrupt officials following his ouster as head of state.
Buhari stated this yesterday in his Daura country home in Katsina State, while receiving a delegation of Daura Emirate Coalition.
President Buhari revealed that some of the looters had denied ownership of the stolen assets.
“Some years back, one of my school mates in the primary school, who worked at a cottage company before his demise, predicted that we will come to a situation when looters will deny their loots in Nigeria.
“So, as a civil servant, you have 10 houses in Abuja and even in Kaduna and abroad. The more you show them the properties, the more they will swear that it does not belong to them.
“And we are still following due process. You know in democracy, you have to follow due process and respect the rule of law. If you are following, you would hear that some of these looters were arrested, and for those who deny their loots, then, instead of what happened before, this time around, we will sell those stolen properties and the proceeds will be deposited in the government treasury,’
“If the money is in the government treasury, I will see who will come back after we left and reclaim them,’’ President Buhari stated.
He said his administration would continue to pursue a robust, effective and legitimate anti-corruption campaign that safeguards the treasury and commonwealth of all Nigerians.
He also said that the Federal Government would consolidate on the gains and achievements in the development of infrastructure across the country.
“For most ordinary Nigerians, if you give them good roads, railway and stable electric power they will be happy to carry on with their lives.
‘‘We are doing so much for our country and we will continue to do more out of the fear of God,” President Buhari said.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Alhaji Mohammed Saleh commended Buhari’s administration for implementing policies and programmes, particularly the Social Investment Programmes, which, he said, had created gainful employment for thousands of youths.
