P&ID Underscores How Past Activities Of Few Corrupt, Unpatriotic Individuals Plundered Nigeria – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari says the $9.6billion contract scandal involving the Processing and Industrial Development Limited (P&ID), an Irish engineering firm has underscored how some few corrupt and unpatriotic Nigerians plundered the nation’s resources under the past administration.

Bubari who spoke in a nationwide broadcast to mark the nation’s 59 independence anniversary, however vowed that his administration would punish all Nigerians involved in the contract scandal.

He said that his administration would partner with the 9^th national assembly alongside the state assemblies to facilitate the swift passage of enabling laws that will institutionalize these anti-corruption efforts in our criminal justice system.

“The P&ID Arbitral Award has underscored the manner in which significant economic damage has been caused by the past activities of a few corrupt and unpatriotic Nigerians.

“The policies that we are putting in place today are to ensure such criminal and unpatriotic acts do not go without consequences.

“Our renewed partnership with the 9th National Assembly will facilitate the swift passage of enabling laws that will institutionalize these anti-corruption efforts in our criminal justice system”, he added.

“In this connection, I call upon our States to intensify their own efforts to instill greater fiscal transparency and accountability. And to ensure greater fiscal efficiency and optimum use of our very scarce resources.

“The blight of Corruption is fighting back. Nevertheless, this is a battle that we shall see through and this is a war, which we shall win by the Grace of God.

“I will also call upon all Nigerians, from every walk of life, to combat Corruption at every turn. By choosing to question and confront corrupt practices, by reporting unethical practices or through whistleblowing.

“Together, we can overcome corruption and will no longer be a country defined by corruption”.

Speaking further on fighting corruption, President Buhari said that the administration’s institutional reforms to enforce the Treasury Single Account policy, introduce the Whistle-blowers’ Initiative, expand the coverage of the Integrated Payroll Personnel and Information System as well as the Government Integrated Management Information System have saved billions of Naira over the last four years, and deterred the rampant theft and mismanagement of public funds that have plagued our public service.

According to him, “The Ministry of Justice, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will continue to address this menace. We are determined to ensure that transparency and good governance are institutionalized in public service.

“We must commit to installing a culture of Good Governance in all we do. This Administration has fought against corruption, by investigating and prosecuting those accused of embezzlement and the misuse of public resources. We have empowered teams of prosecutors, assembled detailed databases of evidence, traced the proceeds of crimes and accelerated the recovery of stolen funds”, he added.

Furthermore, he said that the administration had partnered with friends abroad to combat tax evasion, smuggling, terrorism and illicit financial flows, emphasizing, “In June 2018, I assented to the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, to provide a domestic legal framework for obtaining international assistance in criminal matters.

According to him, “This measure has already strengthened our law enforcement agencies in obtaining evidence, investigating suspects and facilitating the recovery, forfeiture and confiscation of property implicated as proceeds of crime.

“An example is the US$300 million recently identified as part of the Abacha money-laundering case, working closely with the Government of the United States of America. The Federal Ministry of Justice is working with the US Department of Justice to conclude a Memorandum of Understanding to expedite the repatriation of these funds”, he further disclosed.