In its efforts to recover looted Nigerian funds, the federal government has identified banks, financial institutions, and countries in which payments for stolen Nigerian crude oil have been deposited, President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed today in Abuja.
He made the remark when he received a delegation of United States Congressmen. He acknowledged the support and cooperation his administration is receiving from the international community in gathering the necessary intelligence for tracing and recovering stolen national resources.
“We are getting cooperation from the international community, including information on ships that take crude oil from Nigeria and change direction, or pour their contents into other ships mid-stream,” he told his guests, who were led by Representative Darrel Issa.
Mr. Buhari reiterated that he has been assured that when Nigeria completes her documentation, the United States and other countries will treat her case with sympathy.
“Some monies were paid to individual accounts,” the President said. “We are identifying the financial institutions and countries that are involved.”
He further told the Congressmen that his administration will welcome more regular meetings of the Nigeria-United States Bi-National Commission, which he noted could serve as a more useful platform for the promotion of bilateral trade and economic relations, as well as joint cooperation in the war against terrorism.
Rep. Darrel assured President Buhari that the United States will support Nigeria against Boko Haram by providing training, intelligence and military platforms.
“We look forward to helping you in many ways to end the Boko Haram insurgency and the theft of crude oil in the Gulf of Guinea,’’ he said.