Human Rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has urged the Federal Government to focus its efforts on recovering stolen funds rather than requesting for loans.
Falana stated while speaking at an event to mark the International Anti-Corruption Day organised by the U.S. Embassy in Abuja on Thursday.
He said, “People have stolen our money, why are you begging them to return it? We need to fight them and collect the money; we do not need loans that will mortgage the future of our country.
“The government is asking for a loan of $29.6 billion and we have more than that to recover.”
Speaking further, he said, “For instance, $458 million has been forfeited in the U.S.; Nigeria has filed an application before the High Court in Jersey where the money was traced to.
“But the U.S. Government has filed an objection to the release of the money to the government of Nigeria, claiming the money should be paid to the U.S Government to be managed for Nigeria.
“We also have some money to collect from the Swiss Government; the Swiss Government is illegally saying that they are not going to release this money unless the World Bank is ready to supervise the management of the fund.
“Unfortunately, the government (Nigeria) is not challenging such violations of our sovereign rights as a nation.
“Unless the Federal Government is prepared to adopt an aggressive policy against western governments and their very corrupt financial institutions, we are not going to come out of this mess.”
Dolapo is a writer and journalist who works with YNaija. He has interests in Christianity, politics and sports.
Comment: your excelency sir,pmb since the legislators ,former cbn governor,and human right activist femy falana and others advice agaist borowing #29.9 bilion from the western world why not take a different aproach.