Buhari Vows To Ensure Recovered Monies Do Not Return To ‘Looters’

President Muhammadu Buhari says fighting corruption takes longer
time, especially with the need to adhere to the rule of law.

He stated this on Friday when he received members of the
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), led by its President, Dr
Samson Ayokunle, at the State House in Abuja.

The President disclosed what he told the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) to do with monies recovered from alleged
looters in the country.

“It is on record that some cases initiated by the anti-graft
bodies since 2003 are yet to be concluded,” he said, adding, “We
will, however, not be discouraged.”

“Where monies have been recovered, such monies will not find
their way back to the looters as I have directed EFCC to account
for every money it has recovered and put them in a dedicated
account.”

President Buhari said his vision and objectives for Nigeria were
very clear and that he was already on course to achieve them.

He also stressed that he was doing his best to fulfil his
electoral promises of securing the country, fighting corruption and
resuscitating the economy.

Responding to the request of CAN for an overhaul of the
intelligence gathering system, the President said the burden of
intelligence gathering involves everyone.

According to him, those directly involved include district
heads, traditional rulers, opinion leaders and religious leaders
who are very close to the grassroots.

President Buhari, who decried that the bandits operating in
various communities live among the people, urged the leaders of
thought in various communities to avail security agencies with
information about the criminals.

On the general elections in 2019, he told the Christian leaders
that he had assurances from the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) that the polls would be free and fair, noting
that he has been a victim of ‘fraudulent elections’ and beneficiary
of a free and fair election in the past.

He said, “When I decided to put on this Agbada to see what the
people are seeing in it, I tried three times, 2003, 2007 and 2011,
but the fourth time, in 2015, I succeeded.”

“We thank God and technology in the form of Permanent Voter’s
Cards (PVCs) and card reader because what they used to do was to
look at constituencies, award the votes and then they will say
whoever didn’t agree should go to court.

“When people are looking for what to eat, where do they have the
money to go to court to pay the SANs?” President Buhari
wondered.

He also informed the CAN delegation that the Federal Government
was working towards finding a lasting solution to the clashes
between farmers and herders in the country.

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