By Tobi Soniyi in Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the World Bank to do all within its powers to facilitate the speedy repatriation to Nigeria of stolen funds still being held by Swiss authorities.
The president specifically enlisted the World Bank’s help in recovering $320 million in Switzerland, which has been identified as illegally taken from Nigeria under the Abacha administration.
A statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, said Buhari sought the World Bank’s help in repatriating stolen wealth at a meeting with the visiting Managing Director of the World Bank, Ms. Sri Mulyani Indrawati.
Buhari said that the repatriation of the additional $320 million US dollars in Switzerland, which had been identified as illegally taken from Nigeria under the Abacha administration, would help to ease the current economic hardship facing the country.
The president assured Indrawati that his administration was taking appropriate steps to ensure that public funds were no longer stolen or misappropriated by government officials.
Buhari said: ‘‘We need the support of the World Bank for the repatriation of the funds.
“We are as concerned as the World Bank about accountability. If such repatriated funds have been misapplied in the past, I assure you that the same will not happen with us.
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