Nigerians stash away $400 billion abroad – Ex-Minister says
Former Minister of Commerce, Mustapha Bello who is one of the delegates from the North Central geo-political zone to the National Conference, yesterday informed the conference that Nigerians have about $400 billion stashed away abroad.
Bello stated this during the resumed debate on President Goodluck Jonathan’s speech to the conference at its inauguration on March 17.
Concerned about the increasing cases of corruption in Nigeria, the delegate asked the anti-graft agencies to look into the matter.
Mr. Bello, who did not give details how he came about figure or whether they were all stolen funds, however said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, were looking into the matter.
He pleaded with the conference to find a way to intervene by ensuring that Nigerians who took monies abroad were granted amnesty so that they would return them to develop the country.
Bello also informed the conference that a former President of Indonesia had employed a similar method and it worked for his country.
On insinuation that, President Jonathan is weak, the delegate argued that it was not the president that was weak, but the Nigerian system.
He was of the opinion that the model of presidential system Nigeria practices made the president look weak, adding that the same situation obtained in the United States hence President Barracks Obama found it difficult to push through certain polices.
The ex-minister canvassed a blend of parliamentary and presidential system for Nigeria.