Ahead the inauguration of Donald Trump as the President of the United states, US, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP has appealed to him to repatriate Nigeria’s stole funds stashed in various banks in his country.
Trump is set to take office today as US 47th President.
SERAP made the appeal in a statement issued by Kolawole Oludare, its Deputy Directing, noting that at least $500 billion has been stolen by past Nigerians leaders and other government officials and kept in safe haven in the US.
The rights body stressed that the recent $50 million repatriated to Nigeria, being alleged stoled funds by a former Petroleum Minister, Dieziani Madueke is a paltry of what corrupt government officials had stolen form the country, and kept abroad.
Oludare urged President Trump to publish the names of the thieving officials as a way of shaming them, and also ban them from coming to the US, adding that those found to have committed the offence should be prosecuted by the US Department Of Justice, to serve as dereference to others.
He cited some legal constraints as one of the reasons why such funds have not been returned to the country, however, hoping that the Trump administration will “address the legal impediments” so that the stolen funds cant be returned to the country.
According to SERAP, the stolen funds is the reason for the poverty and other economic problems the country is facing today, saying their return will bring succcor to the public, adding that freezing such stolen funds and returning them is in line with relevant International conventions.
SERAP said, “Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the United Nations Convention against Corruption to which both the US and Nigeria are state parties.
“Proceeds of corruption from Nigeria continue to be deposited in US banks or in other locations subject to US jurisdictions.
“We hope you and your incoming government address the legal impediments that have continued to allow corrupt Nigerian government officials to deposit and conceal their ill-gotten assets in the US and other locations subject to US jurisdiction.
“Returning proceeds of corruption to Nigeria is a development imperative. By returning proceeds of corruption to Nigeria, the US would be contributing to the efforts to address the growing poverty in the country and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Several billions of dollars stolen from the country by corrupt Nigerian officials have been returned to the country form Europe and US since the last few year. The highest of such returned funds were those stolen by the late Nigerian maximum rule, Gen Sanni Abacha.
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