President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja
applauded the renewed support from Britain and Switzerland for the recovery and
repatriation of public funds stolen from Nigeria.
President Buhari |
The president gave the
commendation at separate audiences with the new British and Swiss Ambassadors
to Nigeria, who were at the Presidential Villa to present their letters of
credence.
Buhari noted that
British, Swiss and other foreign anti-crime agencies had already given his
administration much help with relevant information and intelligence on public
funds that were stolen and illegally transferred to personal bank accounts by
officials of past administrations.
The President, however, called
for the speeding up of the processes of investigation, prosecution and
repatriation of Nigerian funds stolen by corrupt public officials and their
accomplices.
‘‘Switzerland and Britain
have been very helpful indeed in the recovery of our assets. But we must build
on what we have started.
‘‘It is also important to
send a signal to the elite that it is no longer business as usual.
``I personally appreciate
the efforts of Prime Minister David Cameron on this issue.
``He has honoured his
commitments to us. He promised to support our government to build a strong and
dynamic economy and he has been faithful to his words,’’ the President told the
new British High Commissioner, Mr Paul Arkwright.
In his remarks, Arkwright
assured him of Britain's preparedness to give Nigeria the fullest possible
support and assistance in the recovery of its looted resources.
‘‘We are most ready to
help. We have a good team at the National Crime Agency (NCA) working with your
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
``Tell us where and how
we can help and we will provide the assistance,’’ the British High Commissioner
assured the President.
President Buhari also
welcomed assurances from the new Swiss Ambassador, Mr Eric Mayoraz, that his
country would expedite action on the repatriation of millions of dollars stolen
by Nigerian public officials and still held in Swiss Banks.
‘‘I am very pleased and
we will get our Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work
with you to ensure that all the stolen funds are returned safely to government
coffers as quickly as possible,’’ the President added.
The President also
received the letters of credence of the Ambassador of the State of Palestine,
Mr Saleh Fhied Saleh, the Ambassador of Myanmar, Mr Tha Aung Nyun and the Ambassador
of Slovakia, Mr Peter Holasek.(NAN)
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