The Presidency on Sunday said funds recovered from those who looted the
nation’s treasury cannot be made public now until they are used as
evidence against those the funds were recovered from.
A member representing Ihiala Federal Constituency of Anambra State on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Rep Emeka Anohu, had at the weekend urged the federal government to disclose how much has so far been recovered from the looted funds and where the monies are being kept.
A member representing Ihiala Federal Constituency of Anambra State on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Rep Emeka Anohu, had at the weekend urged the federal government to disclose how much has so far been recovered from the looted funds and where the monies are being kept.
But the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu told newsmen on Sunday that although President Muhammadu Buhari has the intention of making the recovery public, it cannot be done now until they have been brought before a judge as evidence against the looters.
Shehu said the money recovered is currently being lodged in an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, adding that the challenge before the government right now is that the money has to first be presented to the court before being made public.
He said: “the issue of how much has been returned has been there. The money retrieved has to be used as evidence in court. The President said two things; we will recover and we will prosecute. So as it now, you don’t go and bring all these millions returned out.
“I am aware that there is an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) where some of these funds are been kept and are evidences for a judge to see. It is not for public display. I think that is the challenge we have at the moment”.
Shehu revealed that the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, will soon begin a town hall meeting to explain government policies and actions to the people, adding that the meetings, which will begin at zonal levels, will later go down to state levels.
He said: “I know that there is a plan for Professor Osinbajo, the Vice President to start Town Hall meetings in zones and then it would be broken down to the state and so on. Government realises that there is a need to take information to the people and there are steps that are been taken in order to ensure that is done”.
