Lai: Buhari was advised against naming looters

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, has revealed the reason why President Muhammadu Buhari reneged on his promise of disclosing the identities of looters.

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, has revealed the reason why President Muhammadu Buhari reneged on his promise of disclosing the identities of looters.

At the anti-corruption summit in London, Buhari promised to give specific details on recovered loots during his democracy day address.

“So far, what has come out, what has been recovered in whatever currency from each ministries, departments and individuals, I intend on the 29th to speak on this because all Nigerians are getting from the mass media because of the number of people arrested either by the EFCC, DSS. But we want to make a comprehensive report on the 29th,” he had said.

But during his address, Buhari transferred the responsibility to the ministry of information and culture.

“The processes of recovery can be tedious and time consuming, but today I can confirm that thus far: significant amount of assets have been recovered. A considerable portion of these are at different stages of recovery. Full details of the status and categories of the assets will now be published by the ministry of information and updated periodically,” the president said in his address.

However, speaking at The First Year, a programme organised by Channels Television to mark the one year anniversary of the current administration, Mohammed said the list would soon be available.

“We will get the list but not today; before the end of the week. But I must say not with the names,” he said.

When asked why the president did not fulfill his promise, the minster tried to defend Buhari: “Of course for obvious legal reasons. The president said he was going to release the amount recovered and where the recovered assets are.”

Apparently realising that his argument was not convincing, Mohammed said: “Yes he initially said so (naming looters), but he was advised against doing so for legal reasons. Of course, he has a right to reverse himself on that.”

BY THE CABLE