EFCC has just discovered $37.5m in Diezani's Lagos mansion. Last Thursday, Mr Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), confirmed the recovery of 9.75 million dollars and 750,000 pounds from a residence in Kaduna state.
I recall a period in my secondary school (FGC Kano) that my pocket money was stolen. I had no money on me and a replacement was not forthcoming from my parents in the far east. One Saturday in the laundry while washing, I stumbled on 10 pieces of N20 notes in the pocket of a trouser I had not worn for over a month. The discovery of this money I hid from senior bullies but forgot in the process changed my mood. My swag in the hostel returned. I found my voice back and the 'recession' was gone.
From Magu's report to the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes during the 2016 budget performance appraisal and defence of 2017 budget, the commission recovered N102.91 billion, 8.30 million dollars, GBP 29,155, 12,475 pounds, 117,004 Canadian dollars as proceeds of crime between January and December, 2016.
Like my secondary school experience, can't we have our 'swag' back as a nation, with these recoveries? Can't we find our voices back and say good bye to recession? Good job the EFCC but when are we going to see these funds ploughed back into our battered economy? This is where it concerns the common man most!
We make a passionate appeal to the National Assembly to work together with the Presidency and the Judiciary to begin to pass bills that will allow us have legal access to 'our money' while the looters are prosecuted. Manufactures and oil marketers are struggling due to unavailability of Forex while we have billions of foreign and local currencies stashed in private houses and the EFCC vaults as evidence.
We need our money and economy back!