THE stolen funds allegedly traced to
former Petroleum Minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke could fund
infrastructure growth, Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG) said yesterday
in Abuja.
A statement by its Chairman, Mr. Austin
Braimoh and Secretary, Mr. Cassidy Madueke, said government could build
six world-class airports in each geo-political zone with part of the
funds.
It added that the recovered loot was
enough to have funded agricultural projects that would have generated
employment for Nigerian youths.
The BMSG added that the N47.2 billion
and 487.5 million dollars in cash and property traced to Alison-Madueke
by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were also enough
to complete the Lagos-Kano and Lagos-Calabar rail lines.
It noted that the Federal Government was already seeking loans for the rail projects.
The group called on Nigerians to join
hands to condemn the massive looting of the nation’s treasury by
officials of previous administrations.
It expressed belief that the loot traced
to the former minister was a “far cry’’ from what she and others in the
past governments pilfered from the national treasury.
According to it, these funds stashed in foreign accounts forced the Nigerian economy to suffer instant depression.
The group noted that Madueke and her
associates, including Mr. Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore, were being tried
by the United States (U.S.) government for allegedly laundering over 1.7
billion dollars.
It urged Nigerians to have a collective
resolve to fight what it described as “psychotic and mindless’’ type of
looting exhibited by indicted government officials in their days in
government.his, it said, could halt the craving to loot public treasury by government officials.
The group reminded Nigerians that though
the fight against corruption was the foremost policy thrust of
President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, “the fight might not attain
maximum result unless Nigerians willingly resolve to join in it’’.
“This synergy is necessary so as to fight the art of looting and other forms of mismanagement in government.’’
It stated that all concerned Nigerians should be organising widespread protests to con
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