Recovered loot: FG undecided over prosecution, as SERAP demands looters’ names

There are indications that the Federal Government is yet to decide whether to prosecute looters of the recovered funds and assets that were published at the weekend, just as the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, Sunday, called for the publication of the names of the looters.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government had made good its promise to release the list of recovered loot at the weekend but Nigerians have continued to call for the publication of the names of those involved.

Government, though said it was averse to naming the looters for fear of litigation, it is itself not ruling out prosecuting the alleged looters from whom billions of Naira and assets have been recovered.

 

Speaking on the possibility of prosecution,  a top Federal Government official, who was involved in the recovery of the loot, said it was possible that some of the cases would be treated differently from the others because of the amount involved and how the money was taken.

The source said: “It is too early to say whether to try those who refunded the money and those who forfeited assets.

“In any case, all the cases are not the same because we applied serious effort to trace and freeze some of the assets while others were willingly returned by the looters. These issues would certainly play a crucial role in deciding who to charge or not.”

However, the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, said he could not immediately speak on whether the looters would be prosecuted or not, given the fact that recovery efforts were ongoing.

Malami, who spoke in Cameroon, said there was still more work to be done in the recovery of looted fund.

SERAP, in calling for the publication of the names of the looters, insisted that doing so will be in line with international standard, recognizing that naming those involved will shame them and prevent future occurrence and also discourage any form of looting or re-looting of the recovered funds.

 

In a statement by its Executive Director, Tokunbo Mumuni, the group also urged government to utilise the recovered  funds for concrete projects for positive development towards the establishment of a culture of transparency and accountability in government.