Abacha loot: Southern, Middle-Belt leaders call for immediate probe of FG, Bagudu deal
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has demanded an immediate judicial probe into allegations made by the United States government that President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime is planning to re-loot Abacha loot by giving $100m to Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State who was late General Sani Abacha alleged chief financial crimes agent.
The leaders made the demand in a release signed by Mr Yinka Odumakin for South-West, Gen. C.R.U Ihekire (South- East), Senator Henshaw Bassey (South-South) and Dr Isuwa Dogo (Middle-Belt).
SMBLF said it was scandalized but not in the least surprised by the allegations made by the US that the Nigerian government was frustrating attempts to recover part of the looted funds allegedly traced to Bagudu, who is the chairman of the All Progressives Congress Governor’s Forum.
The forum, while demanding for a judicial inquiry into the allegations, urged the Federal Government to shut its mouth and stop insulting the citizens that it was fighting corruption until it cleared itself.
This was just as SMBLF said the denial by the presidency does not sit properly, noting that it had become a pattern of “this now integrity-challenged regime” to want to “slander all those who call it to account locally.”
“The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) is scandalised but not in the least surprised by the allegations made by the United States of America that the Buhari regime is planning to re-loot Abacha loot by giving $100m to Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State who was/is Abacha alleged chief financial crimes agent.
“The US Department also stated that the Nigerian government was frustrating attempts to recover part of the looted funds allegedly traced to Bagudu, who is the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress governor’s forum.
“We, therefore, demand a judiciary inquiry into the US allegations and ask this government to shut its mouth and stop insulting us that it is fighting corruption until it clears itself,” the leaders said.
“Only 48 hours back we learnt that the Excess Crude Account (ECA) which used to be in billions of dollars is now down to $70m. The administration has plunged Nigeria to un-payable debt borrowing in three years more than what we previously borrowed in 30 years with no deliveries in town. We recall how the former Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun queried the EFCC chairman of having no record of what EFCC recovered from corrupt politicians,” it recalled.
