NaijaGists.com Latest News Updates
How The Oyinbos Insulted Us While Recovering $308Million Stolen By Abacha
How The Oyinbos Insulted Us While Recovering $308Million Stolen By Abacha
Exclusive report by Robert Egbe
US Government has warned that it will recover the over $308million looted and stashed abroad by former Head of State, the late Gen Sani Abacha, if it is re-stolen in Nigeria.
The threat followed a February 4 repatriation pact the Federal Government signed with the Americans and the government of Jersey to return the money.
The pact was sealed 22 years after Abacha’s death and after almost two decades of litigation involving the three parties.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which partook in what is being regarded as the world’s largest asset recovery across borders, said the foreigners warned against the money being re-looted.
The Commission’s Secretary, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, stated this in Lagos last Friday during an anti-corruption walk organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Youths and Sports Development and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Olukoyede said:
“Two weeks ago, I was privileged to be on the team that went to recover $308million for Nigeria. They are from Washington.
“You know what the Oyinbos told us when we wanted to sign the treaty? They had the audacity to look into our eyes and said: ‘If you people steal this money again, we will collect it back from you.’
“I stood up against them, I said: ‘We are not a corrupt nation. A few people might have stolen money, but Nigeria is not a corrupt nation. We have a lot of youths who are not corrupt.
“And you know it is not their fault, (they said that) because they have seen recovered loot being looted again.”
Public money looted by Abacha during his five years in power is estimated to be about $5 billion.
Since 1998, Nigeria has been finding the loot mostly in the United Kingdom, France, the United States, and New Jersey.
The anti-corruption walk, tagged:
“Nigerian Youth Walk against Corruption” held simultaneously across the country.
The Lagos version featured a walk across Lagos Island and Ikoyi and included EFCC staff, NYSC members and officials, among others.
Olukoyede also advised young people to be diligent and to shun corruption.
He said:
We have arrested so many youths. If we keep putting youths in jail, what is going to be the future of Nigeria?
“So, we want to encourage you; where ever you see corrupt practice, say no to it. Resist it. If anyone is trying to lure you to it, say no. You can win by integrity. Integrity pays….
“Very soon as Youth Corp members will start job-hunting. But where are the jobs? Why aren’t you getting the jobs? A few people have plundered the country’s resources.
‘But let me assure them that at the EFCC, we are not relenting. Let corruption fight back, we will stand against it. We will fight corruption. We will send them to jail. We are not going to give them any chance again in Nigeria.”
Kunle Odetola
February 17, 2020 at 8:24 PM
Imagine what he did over 20 years ago is still denting the image of Africans in the US. I pity Nigeria
OLA
February 18, 2020 at 12:44 AM
NIGERIA IS A VERY CORRUPT NATION AND SO IS THE UNITED STATES.
Akuna
February 18, 2020 at 2:59 AM
I agree @OLA. Corruption is everywhere not only in Nigeria
Metu Nyetu
February 18, 2020 at 1:01 PM
UNA TRY. LET’S SAY that this money was looted from the US, and traced to Nigeria. Do you think that the Nigerian govt would have repatriated it? Do you even think that the money would have been seen at all in Nigeria? Pls you people should face reality! It is granted that other Western countries deal with their own levels of corruption, but to place them at par with Nigeria is so outrageously immodest and uninformed. This country has no hope!!!
James Kuno
February 18, 2020 at 2:59 AM
Your forefathers brought this stain on you. Forgo your citizenship before it is too late
OLA
February 18, 2020 at 8:14 PM
@ METU NYETU, YOU KNOW NOT WHAT YOU SPEAK OF.. MY MAN, THE UNITED STATES IS THE MOST CORRUPT NATION IN THE WORLD. HOW DO I KNOW? I’VE RESIDE IN THE US FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS AND SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY
Metu Nyetu
February 19, 2020 at 6:28 AM
THIS THING YOU DO now is one of the reasons I feel that Nigeria has no hope. Your leader looted your wealth and took it to another country. The country now wants to return the looted money, and you are here blaming them of corruption. What exactly is happening to the brains we have in this country? Is this your way of thanking the US for their kind gesture? You should be more worried about the true intentions of the FG concerning this recovered wealth. Our politicians are crooks, and this you well know. Did not the govt of PMP commit a particular batch of these repatriated Abacha loot to the pockets of those he defined as “poor” people. Up until now, nobody could account for what exactly these recorverred loots have been, or are being,used for. You think our politicians are not really looting the loot again? Think, friend!!!! The warning that the US gave, we had it coming.
Danti
February 18, 2020 at 11:40 AM
The basket-mouth Americans are saying that because they know that we are nervous about anything American. Nonsense! Who are they to tell us that trash? The larger a country, the more the corruption. America has the largest economy; meaning more money around, in fact, every department, state, company and so on are thoroughly corrupt. Tens of billions are systematically stolen at the department of defense in America yearly, yet, Nigeria is the noise.
uzoma
February 18, 2020 at 9:22 PM
Please stop defending the indefensible. It is true there is corruption in America but the difference is that the corrupt ones are severely punished when caught but in Nigeria they are hailed as heroes. In Nigeria when they go to jail and get released, a church service is organized for them and the loot given back to them. Those of them that are mighty are not touched. You know them. If we are competing with the advanced countries in terms of stealing, how come we are not punishing our culprits like they do? How come we are not competing with them in terms of development? How come our people risk their lives in the Mediterranean and aircraft wheels to get to their country? Must we steal because they steal? Look at it this way, they steal and their countries are progressive. We steal and our masses suffer and no discernible progress. No American politician steals with impunity but in Nigeria they do. They steal with their eyes wide open and you have people support them. The likes of Okorocha and Tinubu are good examples. Ironically Tinubu studied here in Chicago and knows how things work but went home to do the opposite. Which American politician carries money in Bullion Van? Has no one not heard of the big time scammers in America who are long sentence and some even died in Jail and some even get life sentence? In China corrupt government officials are executed. In America when you work and retire you are sure of your pension and social security but in Nigeria you have to bribe someone to get your pension. The money you worked for and you have to bribe someone to get paid. Please it is time Nigerians stop glorifying evil and stand for the truth.
Metu Nyetu
February 19, 2020 at 6:31 AM
10/10 bro! Tell them!!
Danti
February 20, 2020 at 11:42 AM
Nobody is glorifying evil, I know that naive Nigerians have the proclivity to grovel on issues pertaining to America. Abacha hid billions at Bank of America, Citi and Chase nobody said nothing. What I am saying is that they knew these were illegal, but accepted to keep it for him. So are they faultless? Currently, similar problems are going on; Nigerians are sending their kids to college in America and some are buying houses with money from. But these yeye Americans kept quiet. Why, because they are loving it! Folks, corruption is not just abrupt money grabbing, everything that America does in foreign land is being propelled by corrupt intent. If you like, continue to shout “ooyinbo” when you see them.
Ace
February 19, 2020 at 1:09 PM
Metu, Uzoma I hail you both. I always love to read your comments because you talk sense.
Yes there’s corruption in America, but at least there are good roads, health care, electricity, education, infrastructures, all available for everyone whether rich or poor.
I was in Abuja two weeks ago for good five days l couldn’t sleep, no light, generators will not even let me blink.
We have unmanaged govt offices everywhere, no parking spaces. We have to park and walk nothing less than two miles to get to the offices.
We need to continue to beg God for our country Nigeria, otherwise no hope for our children. It’s just a pity!
Metu Nyetu
February 19, 2020 at 7:43 PM
10/10@Ace
DB
February 20, 2020 at 6:39 AM
Imagine if Abacha was still alive. He also would have been another president looting and receiving praises from idiots like Buhari supporters. America knows what they are saying and these demonic looters have put words in their mouth. Imagine one man stealing $5bn as at 1990’s