As the hiding place shrinks

As the hiding place shrinks

Talks have been concluded, and follow up actions have begun by both the government of Nigeria and that of the United States of America on tracing, retrieval and repatriation back to Nigeria of public funds stolen by politicians. A bilateral arrangement entered into on behalf of the Nigerian government by the country’s Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC with appropriate agencies of the U.S is ensuring that Billions of Nigerian money stolen and illegally banked offshore in the United States would now be recovered and wired back into the coffers of the Nigerian Government.

The U.S is also said to be lobbying its European Union, EU allies to join in the initiative aimed at assisting Nigeria to successfully recover its looted fortunes.

Families, friends and associates of any indicted Nigerian politicians residing in the United States are going to be under close monitor with their financial dealings under watch, pointblaknews.com learnt authoritatively.

This development is coming barely a week after the United States Government unfolded a multi-faceted strategy to assist in combating money laundering and illicit drug trafficking.

Pointblanknews.com learnt that the U.S Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Jendayi Frazer had held talks with President Umaru Yar’Adua in Abuja during the inauguration ceremony. Even before President Yar’Adua got elected, there were several high level contacts and protocol signing expressing the two countries commitment to trace and bring back to Nigeria every dime stolen by greedy public servants and politicians.

The czar of the EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, is one of those prominent top level functionaries that have periodically shown up in the U.S. The U.S was said to have pledged logistic support to Abuja especially in the area of fighting corruption.

Expectedly Washington which has an impressive tracking and blocking of international money laundering activities would be placing at the disposal of Nigeria that vast wealth of experience if Nigeria’s situation does not defy proven logic. Whatever people like the late General Sani Abacha, late Sunday Afolabi, Diepreye Alamieyesiegha, Ayo Fayose, Orji Uzor Kalu, Samuni Turaki, Lucky Igbinedion, James Ibori, Peter Odili, Jolly Nyame, Joshua Dariye, Bola Tinubu, Bukola Saraki among others have stashed abroad would now be coming back to Nigeria.

The U.S social security administration rule makes it less cumbersome to investigate and determine the activities of every individual living or doing business within the country. Therefore, relations, associates and business partners who could be established as having anything to do with the indicted Nigerian politicians would now be under the radar.