Alhaji Lai Mohammed has revealed the real reason President Muhammadu Buhari did not release details of looted asset recovered from corrupt persons.
Premium Times quoted the minister of Information and Culture as saying that the president did not make the disclosure due “legal reasons.”
Speaking on the evening of Sunday, May 29, after Buhari’s Democracy Day broadcast, Alhaji Mohammed said: “Yes, he initially said so (that he’ll give specific details about recovered loot), but he was advised against doing so for legal reasons.”
During the anti-corruption summit in London a few weeks ago, Buhari had said: “So far, what has come out, what has been recovered in whatever currency from each ministries, departments and individuals, I intend on the 29th to speak on this because all Nigerians are getting from the mass media because of the number of people arrested either by the EFCC, DSS. But we want to make a comprehensive report on the 29th.”
However, during the Democracy Day broadcast, President Buhari did not make the details public, stating that the Information ministry would make that public soon.
But when Nigerians reacted negatively to the president’s failure to mention the stolen loots, Mohammed said the president has a right to say whatever he pleases or otherwise.
“Of course, he has a right to reverse himself on that,” the minister said, adding however, that some details of recovered loot will soon be published, but not totally what the president initially promised.
He said: “We will get the list but not today; before the end of the week. But I must say not with the names.”
