Why Do Public Fund Looters Flee Abroad?

I find it strange and absurd that those who are brave enough to steal from the nation flee abroad for safety against possible prosecution.

The illusion of safety in a foreign land drives the majority of hefty thieves out of this country to seek refuge in unfriendly countries to Nigerians, but for the money.

My stand is simple: if you are bold enough to steal from the public, be bold enough to stay and face the consequences.

Another irritating dimension is when large funds are stolen from Nigeria, deposited through a proxy in a foreign bank account, and seized as being laundered, everyone loses: Nigerians, the thief in question.

There have been cases where looters of public funds, in sheer desperation and naivety, get themselves jailed abroad. James Ibori, the former governor of Delta State, has been wasting away in a British jail for the past six years. He was sentenced to a prison term of thirteen years in 2012. The laundered monies were seized, and he will be deported to Nigeria empty handed after his release.

Another similar case of note is Abacha’s loot. The estimated $4 billion stolen by the former Head of state is scattered in various countries. The International Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has issued a “Red Notice” on ex-Pension Reform Task Team Chairman Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, who is believed to be out of the country. The former Chairman who is accused of looting N32 billion has been on the run since Jonathan lost reelection bid last year. How far he will remain in hiding before his extradition is everyone’s guess.

For those who think that the wired world, with large-sized -search lights for laundered monies can easily and temporary be deceived into obscurity, should think twice before fleeing with the loot.

There is no security anywhere for money launderers. Therefore, the futile exercise of loot and flee could be considered as of over exposure of one’s identity and image.

Another ignoble result of those engaged in looting of public financial assets is the insult of exposing one’s family to ridicule. Somehow, Nigeria’s politicians or public servants have devised another tactic of using their children as custodians of looted funds. Transmitting this vulgar, irritating behaviour down the family lane shows how much stealing of public resources, with impunity, has become an acceptable norm in our society.

The former Jigawa state governor, Sule Lamido, was arrested with his son. Both spent time in Kuje Prison before being bailed for future appearances in court.

Haliru Bello, a former defence minister; a former acting chairman of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP), was equally arraigned with his son on fraud charges. His days in court exposed the allegations.

Obanikoro, another former minister of defence (state), is being accused of using his two sons to loot N4.8 billion through fictitious defence contracts.

If indulging our children in shady and fraudulent activities has become the “new normal” in Nigeria, then we must find a way to keep this country’s anti-graft agencies potent to deal with over exposure to corruption of the next generation. Capital punishment of Chinese style should create deterrence.

This new style of keeping looted public assets within the family, with children as goal keepers, must be stopped. Creating a chain of domineering young Nigerians who will develop voracious appetite for illicit funds will surely endanger the polity.

It is estimated that the majority of Nigeria’s treasury looters who are currently abroad for fear of the law, are worth about $6 billion. This figure is almost 20 per cent of our current foreign reserves. Laundering funds in other countries other than Nigeria is of no value to them nor Nigerians.

Corruption is unwelcome everywhere; but illicit funds stolen through corruption easily find hiding places abroad, no matter how much the act is abhorred. In most cases, these funds which stimulate other economies remain trapped, elusive to the perpetrators, who risk being jailed in both the host country and Nigeria.

So what is the attraction of embezzling money in Nigeria against the law, and take it to a lawful country, with 70 per cent probability of losing it all?

Again, those who feel protected abroad suffer from dire illusion. There is no safety again for looters. I do not, in any way, support graft, but it is better to remain in Nigeria with the stolen funds to improve Nigeria’s economy; it can, to some extent, be used to buy some form of justice as numerous legal luminaries, with large appetite for stolen monies are ever ready to defend criminals and obtain perpetual injunction against prosecution.

One thing is certain: without President Mohammed Buhari (PMB), no Nigerian would have known how much has been looted from the national treasury. Although, for now, the figures look quite unimaginable, but with repeated exposure of the names of looters and how much each has stolen, it will take little effort to collate the numbers.

There are those who hate PMB’s gut for exposing corruption in the land. There are supporters of his actions, of which I belong. Nigeria cannot remain looted and raped. The economy is nowhere; poverty surfaces everywhere; and hopelessness will lead to uncontrollable despairs. Someone must stop this madness before it gets too late. It’s almost late, but support for PMB to recover some of these monies will help out.

Nigeria has no viable infrastructures to support its growth: roads, rail, air, and sea require huge funds to stimulate growth, but with over $200billion nakedly misappropriated in the past 20 years, the possibility of regaining traction of economic revival seems frail if we do not force these thieves to return some of the stolen monies.

Less than a year ago, prior to Buhari’s administration, we celebrated corruption in this country. Criminals, thieves and well- known public servants robbed our nation, spat on our faces with undignified actions, private Jets, expensive cars, and escalating Boko Haram wars in the North East. The level of exposure, and attention dedicated to graft by this regime, in just one year, shows that if we seriously fight corruption, this cancer will surely wane. But we need a leader like PMB to make it through.

Some Nigerians want miracles to happen in one year; they expect change to happen now, forgetting that the treasury is completely empty. It has been looted and deposited abroad. It is ludicrous and hilarious when Olisa Metuh, who has just come out of jail for graft, could slap the nation with his prediction of the PDP victory in 2019. For him, he is being persecuted; his ignorance of the magnitude of his offence is how much People’s Democratic Party supports corruption. Therefore, any fight against corruption is direct fight against his political party. This mindset is what has retarded Nigeria.

The fight against economic and financial crimes has been rejuvenated by the new leadership of the Economic‎ and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), solidly backed by all rational Nigerians, including the President. While recovering of stolen funds seems to be the core motive behind the arrests, there must be punishment for all those found guilty. Without serious repercussion, deterrence will never occur.

Those who managed to flee the country must be made uncomfortable wherever they are, since they have made most Nigerians socially and economically uncomfortable here, at home.