Looters burying stolen funds in forests, burial grounds – FG

The Federal Government says its anti corruption
agencies have been inundated with information of
how looters have resorted to burying stolen funds in
their backyards , deep forests and burial grounds .
The Minister of Information and Culture , Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, who disclosed this in a statement issued
on Sunday in Lagos , said the whistle blower policy is
working and has led to the recovery of more looted
funds in many currencies .
Mohammed assured in a statement signed by his
Special Adviser , Mr Segun Adeyemi, that all the
recovered looted funds were safe and government
will give full account to Nigerians .
The minister thanked Nigerians for their enthusiasm
and commitment in helping the government to tackle
corruption through disclosure of useful leads to
appropriate government agencies .
“ Since we launched the whistle blower policy, we
have received immeasurable support from Nigerians .
“ Yes, there is monetary reward for any information
that leads to recovery of looted funds , but from what
we have seen , most of the Nigerians who have come
forward with useful leads were driven by patriotism
rather than reward .
” Nigerians, fired by a fervid resolve to help banish
corruption from their country , have daily inundated
the offices of the appropriate government agencies
with valuable information .
“ We have been told how looters have resorted to
burying stolen funds in their backyards , in deep
forests and even in burial grounds.
” Thanks to whistle -blowers , it is now clear that a
rapacious few have pillaged the nation’ s wealth
through a vicious orgy of corrupt practices , ” he said .
The minister, however, noted that more funds were
in the possession of looters than were available to
government at all levels to meets its obligations
including paying workers ’ salaries and providing
social amenities .
He stressed that the government will not abandon
the policy for whatever reason , but will continue to
rejig it and make it more effective as a tool for
fighting corruption .
The minister assured that as soon as the necessary
reconciliation process and the litigation in some of
the cases were concluded , government would give
full account of the recovered looted funds to
Nigerians.
Mohammed re -assured Nigerians who have useful
information on looted funds that the government
will protect their identities and give them
their stipulated reward .