*N1.34trillion stolen with impunity
State governors, ministers, business leaders, public officials and bankers allegedly stole $6.7billion in public funds in seven years, information minister Lai Mohammed revealed on Monday.
Mohammed told reporters in Abuja that 1.34trillion naira ($6.72 billion, 6.15 billion euros) was allegedly stolen between 2006 and 2013. “The situation is dire and the time to act is now,” he added.
Giving a breakdown of the alleged theft, Mohammed said:
– 15 former state governors stole N146.84billion
– 11 businessmen took N653billion
– Eight people in the banking industry stole N524billion
– 12 former state and federal public servants made off with more than N14billion
– four former ministers took N7billion
The period covered starts toward the end of the second term in office for Nigeria’s first civilian president after military rule, Olusegun Obasanjo. He was replaced in 2007 by Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
Goodluck Jonathan took over in 2010 when Yar’Adua died in office.
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari came to power in May last year, vowing to crack down on endemic corruption in Africa’s most populous nation.
He accused Jonathan’s administration of leaving the treasury “virtually empty” and vowed to recover what he said were “mind-boggling” sums stolen from the public purse.
Former NSA Sambo Dasuki and a string of high-profile figures are currently facing corruption charges over allegedly bogus arms deals to the tune of $2 billion.
Recently, the investigation has been widened to military top brass who served under Jonathan.
Mohammed said tackling corruption is central to Buhari’s administration but added that it involved everyone. “This is Nigeria’s war,” he stressed.
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