Lawyer and human rights activist Femi Falana (SAN) has urged the Federal Government to retrieve Nigeria’s stolen wealth stashed in various banks in western countries by past military leaders.
Rather than government’s proposed $30billion loan, Falana is optimistic that money retrieved from such undertaking would be more than enough to address the economic and social gaps plaguing the nation.
Similarly, a former chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) Ayo Opadokun, also called on Nigerians, particularly youths, to begin asking question from authorities on how the nation’s resources are being spent and where stolen ones are kept.
Falana, Opadokun and former National President of National Association of Nigerian Students Comrade Olusegun Mayegun spoke yesterday at a symposium organised by the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos at the institution’s auditorium.
It was themed: “X-raying 50 years of military intervention in politics.”
Falana challenged government to summon enough courage to sue banks in the West, who have been found of complicity in such illicit funds.
He noted that international law allows Nigeria or any aggrieved country to sue banks that has acted as conduit-pipes in stashing illegal funds meant for the development of another country.
He noted that if Nigeria could successfully prosecute some of the banks, it would realise substantial money, which would be enough to bail the country from economic recession.
He said the West was culpable as it played a significant role in allowing some military officers, who have looted the country, keep such illegal deposit in their country and using same to service their economy.
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