No one seems certain just how many billions of dollars in public funds were stolen from Nigerians between 2006 and 2013 but President Muhammadu Buhari vows to get it back.
Some news reports say $6.5 billion. Some say $9 billion. Some say $14 billion.
It’s a heist pulled off by 55 people, many in positions of power, Information Minister Lai Mohammed told reporters Monday, according to a Reuters report.
And so far, none of the accused has denied taking the money, but instead many cite “ludicrous reasons” for why they were justified in taking it, Mohammed said, according to a report in PremiumTimes.
Fifty-five people including government ministers, state governors, public officials, bankers and businessmen stole 1.34 trillion naira ($6.8 billion) in public funds over a seven-year period, the information minister said.
That’s more than a quarter of Nigeria’s 2015 national budget.
Mohammed did not provide any proof to support the numbers, according to Reuters, but gave a breakdown that included the theft of 147 billion naira ($742.42 million) by 15 former state governors, 524 billion Naira ($2.65 billion) by bankers and 7 billion naira ($35.35 million) he said was stolen by four former ministers.
The money could have been used to build 635.18 kilometers of road; 36 ultra-modern hospitals — one per state; build 183 schools; educate 3,974 children from primary to university level; and build 20,062 two-bedroom homes, according to PremiumTimes.
“If we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria,” Mohammed said, urging citizens to get on board in the war against corruption — “Nigeria’s war,” he called it.
Buhari has promised the government will recover “mind-boggling” sums of money stolen from the oil sector. He said public coffers were “virtually empty” when he took over from his predecessor, President Goodluck Jonathan, Reuters reported.
Buhari’s presidency ended the run of power for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which ruled from 1999 to 2015. The PDP, now the opposition party, said Buhari is conducting a witch hunt against its members.
Mohammed asked the Nigerian people to support the government in fighting corruption, irrespective of political, religious or tribal leanings.
“If you have stolen public funds, you must not go scot-free. Everyone and every arm of government must rise up to be counted in this epic war, and defeat is not an option if our country is to survive,” he said.
Former national security advisor Sambo Dasuki and other high-profile figures are currently facing corruption charges over allegedly bogus arms deals to the tune of $2-billion under Jonathan, AFP reported in ENCA.
Last Friday, the investigation was widened to top military officials who served under Jonathan.
“So far, based on what we know, no one who has been accused of partaking in the sharing of the funds has denied receiving money,” Mohammed said, according to PremiumTimes. All we have heard from them are ludicrous reasons why they partook in sharing of the money.
“One said he collected N4.5 billion ($22.5 million US) for spiritual reasons, another said he received N2.1 billion ($10.5 million US) for publicity, and another said he got N13 billion ($65 million US) to pay someone else for land for a university.
The current All Progressives Congress (APC) government said it will not spare anybody who has stolen public funds, regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity or religion, Mohammed said, according to AFP.
