By Emmanuel Udom Snr Correspondent, Lagos
Independent investigations conducted by two non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) have revealed that Nigerian government officials, workers with corporate
bodies and others embezzled N1.354 trillion in the last nine years.
Stop Impunity-Nigeria Campaign and
The Yar’Adua Foundation lamented that such embezzlement took place while 80 per
cent of Nigerians live below the poverty line on less than $1 a day.
Executive Director, Media Rights
Agenda (MRA), Edetaen Ojo, who
stated this in Lagos, said the alleged looting occurred between 2003 and 2012,
even as the Nigerian government seems to be helpless in tacking corruption.
According to him, extensive
investigations across all levels and states in Nigeria by the two NGOs showed
that the public servants at the local, state and federal levels embezzled N6.91
billion within the period under review.
He said: “The private sector,
especially the bankers, allegedly embezzled N524.56 billion; former governors,
N146.8 billion, and business persons, N653.15 billion”.
The MRA boss also alleged that the
nation’s former legislators took another chunk of the national cake by
embezzling N8.35 billion from the public funds, while former ministers made
away with N7.05 billion during the period.
He lamented that due to poor funding
of the anti-corruption agencies, diminished media and public interest, weak
prosecution and compromised court officials, only one conviction was recorded,
even as he said that the onslaught on the commonwealth seems to have no end.
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