The Federal Government on Friday released the long-awaited list of alleged national treasury looters in the country.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed at a media briefing in Lagos alleged that some members of the Peoples Democratic Party looted the national treasury when the party was in power.

He alleged that the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus took N200 million from the office of the former National Security Adviser on February 19, 2015.

He said,

“They said they did not loot the treasury. Well, I am sure they know that the treasury was looted dry under their watch. Yet they decided to grandstand. This shows the hollowness of their apology to Nigerians. Let us just give them a teaser with this list: PDP chairman Uche Secondus on the 19th of Feb 2015, took N200 million only from the office of then NSA”

The minister also alleged that the PDP FInancial Secretary, Bolaji Anani on October 2014, took N600 million from the office of the NSA, adding that the party’s former National Publicity Secretary, Olisah Metuh, is on trial for collecting N1.4 billion from the office of NSA.

Mohammed said that the Chairman of DAAR Communications, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi is also on trial for allegedly taking N2.1 billion also from the office of the NSA.

He said,

“Dudafa Waripamo-Owei, former SSA to President Goodluck Jonathan, is also on trial over N830 million kept in accounts of four different companies.” 

The minister said that a Federal High Court recently ruled that the former President Jonathan’s cousin Robert Azibaola had a case to answer for collecting 40 million dollars from the office of NSA.

Mohammed said,

“This list is just a tip of the iceberg, and the PDP is aware of this. We did not make these cases up. Many of these cases are in court and the records are available. Some of the people on this list are seeking to plea bargain, and that is a fact. We insist that Nigeria was looted blind under the watch of the PDP, and that the starting point in tendering an apology is for them to return the loot.

“It is like a robber admitting to stealing your car and apologizing, but then saying he will keep the car anyway. It doesn’t work that way.

“The PDP is a hypocrite, and that reminds me of what English writer William Hazlitt said: The only vice that cannot be forgiven is hypocrisy. The repentance of a hypocrite is itself hypocrisy. We will not stop talking about the massive looting by the PDP. They brought Nigeria to this sorry pass. We are now looking around for loans to build infrastructure, and they ask us not to talk about it. we will talk about it.”

Speaking on whether the position of the government was prejudice since they had not been convicted by a court, the minister said they were dared by the party to give the names. He added that they had enough evidence to prove the allegations against them.

Recall that the PDP had challenged the ruling party to name the looters under their watch if they actually know any.

NAN