The Federal Government has released a list of some Nigerians alleged to have stolen from the nation’s treasury. Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, released the list during a press conference in Lagos today Friday, March 30th.
Among the names released on the list are those of PDP chieftains currently facing trial for corruption and financial crimes.
The decision by the APC-led government to reveal the names of the alleged looters and the funds allegedly stolen is in response to the opposition party, PDP’s, challenge to the government to name those alleged to have looted the country and destroyed the economy.
“The PDP has challenged us to name the looters under their watch. They said they did not loot the treasury. Well, I am sure they know that the treasury was looted dry under their watch. Yet they decided to grandstand. This shows the hollowness of their apology,” Mohammed said as he released the names'' he said
Amongst the names of the list include
1. PDP Chairman Uche Secondus.
Allegation: On the 19th of Feb 2015, he took N200 million only from the office of the NSA.
- Former PDP Financial Secretary.
Allegation: On the 24th of Oct 2014, he took N600 million only from the office of former NSA.
- Former National Publicity Secretary Olisah Metuh.
On trial for allegedly collecting N1.4bn from the office of former NSA.
- Dr Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman of DAAR Communications.
On trial for allegedly taking N2.1 billion from the office of the former NSA.
- Former SSA to President Goodluck Jonathan, Dudafa Waripamo-Owei
On trial, over N830 million allegedly kept in accounts of four different companies.
- Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Cousin Robert Azibaola
The Minister said most of the persons on the looters list are currently standing trial in court, an evidence that the crimes were indeed committed.
“They are in court and the records are available. Some of the people on this list are seeking to plea bargain, and that is a fact. We insist that Nigeria was looted blind under the watch of the PDP and that the starting point in tendering an apology is for them to return the loot. We will not stop talking about the massive looting by the PDP. They brought Nigeria to this sorry pass. We are now looking around for loans to build infrastructure, and they ask us not to talk about it. We will talk about it,” he said.