Recover Looted Funds: FG Replies Femi Falana

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has said she is attending to the advice by human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), asking the Federal Government to focus on recovering about $200bn outstanding revenue instead of obtaining foreign loans.

Falana had in his letter to the minister entitled, ‘Request for the collection of outstanding revenue of $200bn withheld from the Federation Account or stolen by looters’, threatened to sue the Federal Government if his request was not taken seriously.





His letter had read, “In the light of the foregoing, we are compelled to call on the Federal Government to muster the political will and courage to recover the aforesaid withheld or stolen wealth of not less than $200bn belonging to the Nigerian people.

“However, if you refuse to accede to our request we shall have no alternative than to initiate legal proceedings at the Federal High Court with a view to restraining the Federal Government from further plunging the nation into external indebtedness.”

The minister, through her ministry’s Director, Legal Services, Mrs. Rhona N. Dimude, replied Falana through a letter dated May 6, 2016.

The reply read, “I am directed to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated February 12, 2016 on the above mentioned subject and to inform you that the matter is receiving attention.

“Please accept the warm regards of the honourable minister.”

Falana had said instead of “plunging the nation into more indebtedness” the Federal Government should intensify efforts to recover some funds which was either not remitted to the Federation Account or stolen from the nation’s treasury.

We hope his advise is taken seriously by the minister as her office had promised.