Kogites urge Koleosho-led assets’ recovery committee not to spare indicted looters
NAN-H-60
Recovery
By Martins Odeh
Abuja, Oct.10, 2017 (NAN) A cross section of Kogi indigenes residing in Abuja, have urged the Maj.-Gen. Mobolaji Koleosho-led Kogi Assets Recovery Implementation Committee not to spare those indicted to have looted the state’s treasury.
They gave the advice on Tuesday in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
The committee was set up by Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi to implement the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into activities of the state government between May 2003 and January 2016.
NAN reports that the committee members had on Oct. 9 met with its team of lawyers headed by Mr Joseph Daudu (SAN) in Abuja to perfect best ways to approach their terms of reference.
The committee members were in Abuja to also identify and review various construction projects purportedly executed by previous administrations.
Mr James Aduku, a Civil Servant said it took a governor with a strong political will-power to probe his predecessors.
He said the activities of past administrations had crippled the state, adding that the state was grappling with performing its basic responsibilities to the people.
“I am happy that this committee is set up with people of track records to recover the stolen assets. They should not show mercy on indicted persons,’’ he said.
Chief Eje Audu, a businessman, said looters of the state’s funds had retarded the development of the state, adding that the committee had a herculean task to recover missing assets.
Audu, however, said the committee should adopt the `carrot and stick’ method in other to expeditiously achieve something meaningful.
“Those that would not cooperate with the committee must be taught some bitter lessons by using the instrumentality of the laws.
“I am convinced that the legal team, headed by Chief J.B. Daudu (SAN) will ensure the state got a good deal from this probe,’’ he said.
On his part, Mr Idoko Ochela, a teacher, said the state had just been blessed with a visionary governor committed to ensuring the progress and development of the state.
“The visionary leadership style of Gov. Bello is leading him to recover looted assets. I hope the committee would defile all temptations to enforce the recommendations of the panel,’’ he said.
Mrs Grace Odeakpa, while corroborating Ochela’s position, said the indicted persons were simply enemies of the state.
She said the image of the state was at its lowest ebb because the injuries inflicted on it by past administrations had barred the current one from progressing as it should.
“The governor is right to have commenced this process because the state’s funds are in the hands of the few. They must be made to return them,’’ she said.
The committee was albeit, unable to put out the total amount looted, but noted that the missing assets ran into tens of billions of naira.
The chairman of the committee had said they would not prosecute any indicted official who willingly return stolen assets tagged against his or her.
The head of the legal team had described the procedure adopted by the Kogi Government on the recovery of stolen funds as a model for the country.
Daudu said he was willing to do whatever was legally required to recover those funds and assets back to the coffers of the state government.
On his part, the Attorney-General of the state, Mohammed Ibrahim, criticized some former state’s officials for not honouring the invites of the judicial commission of inquiry to testify. (NAN)
OMO/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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