UK, Swiss offer to bring corrupt Nigerians to book
Diplomats assure Buhari of support with their credentials
THE UK and Switzerland have reiterated their commitment to help Nigeria in the recovery and repatriation of the nation’s funds stolen by corrupt public officials and their accomplices.
The new British high commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, and his Swiss counterpart Eric Mayoraz gave the assurances while presenting their letters of credence to President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Tuesday.
Arkwright assured Buhari of Britain’s preparedness to give Nigeria the fullest possible support and assistance in the recovery of the country’s looted resources, according to a statement by Buhari’s senior special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina.
‘‘We are most ready to help. We have a good team at the National Crime Agency working with your Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Tell us where and how we can help and we will provide the assistance,’’ the new high commissioner told the Nigerian leader.
In a separate ceremony, the new Swiss ambassador said his country will expedite action on the repatriation of millions of dollars stolen by Nigerian public officials which are still held in Swiss banks.
Buhari applauded the renewed support from the two countries for the recovery and repatriation of public funds stolen from Nigeria.
He noted that British, Swiss and other foreign anti-crime agencies had already given his administration much help with relevant information and intelligence on public funds stolen and illegally transferred to personal bank accounts by officials of past administrations.
‘‘Switzerland and Britain have been very helpful in the recovery of our assets. But we must build on what we have started. It is also important to send a signal to the elite that it is no longer business as usual. I personally appreciate the efforts of Prime Minister David Cameron on this issue.
“He has honoured his commitments to us. He promised to support our government to build a strong and dynamic economy and he has been faithful to his words,’’ the president told Arkwright.
Buhari also welcomed assurances from the new Swiss ambassador that his country will expedite action on the repatriation of millions of dollars stashed away in Swiss banks by corrupt Nigerian public officials.
‘‘I am pleased and we will get our Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work with you to ensure that all the stolen funds are returned safely to government coffers as quickly as possible,” he said.
The Nigerian leader, however, called for the speeding up of the processes of investigation, prosecution and repatriation of the looted funds.
Nigeria’s former minister of petroleum resources, Deziani Alison-Madueke, was arrested on Friday by the UK National Crime Agency alongside four other people for bribery and corruption-related offences.
Reports say the National Crime Agency had sought and obtained a court order to confiscate money recovered from the former minister, who has been granted bail.
The agency leads UK law enforcement’s fight to cut serious and organised crime and has national and international reach, mandate and powers to bring the might of the law to bear. – Foreign Service