Buhari May Forgive Any Looter Who Return Our Stolen Money

The loot recovery efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari may soon take a new dimension as there are strong indications that he could grant amnesty to treasury looters to encourage them return stolen billions kept abroad and in Nigeria, rather than spending money and years to prosecute them.

A credible source told National Mirror that Buhari might opt for amnesty option to fast track the recovery of looted funds to enable him fulfill his campaign promises, which will involve trillions of naira.

The amnesty option would serve as the soft side of the looted money recovery strategy otherwise referred to as a “carrot and stick approach.”

While the carrot approach will be for soft looters, who may be willing to return their loot to the government treasury without arrest and charges, the stick stance would be for hardened ones who, may head to court to protect their ill-gotten wealth.

A close associate of President Buhari, who did not want his name mentioned, said different interest groups had prevailed on the president to consider amnesty to enable looters return money without arrest.

“Some interest groups are suggesting that President Buhari should not only rely on prosecution/trial of looters, but should use carrot and stick approach for him to succeed in his anticorruption campaign.

“Amnesty for looters may fast track the recovery of our national wealth being cornered by some few selfish Nigerians. The idea is that, with the amnesty, many looters will quietly return their stolen funds direct or indirectly to the federal government treasury. I can tell you that President Buhari has no money to implement the APC campaign promises to Nigerians.

“The only option now is for looters to return their stolen money. Crude oil has dropped at international market, so where will APC government get funds to fulfill its campaign promises? Many programmes that will change the fortunes of this country are on line but no money to implement.

“You know, many of the looters have money and they can hire best lawyers to defend them in courts and it may take time before any meaningful progress, but with amnesty in place too, many of them will return the money. President Buhari is looking into amnesty for looters too,” the source said.