Buhari says Cameron needs not apologise but just return all of Nigeria's stolen wealth

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has asked Britain to return all of Nigeria's stolen assets that are being kept within its shores including looted artefacts during the colonial era and public funds embezzled by corrupt politicians.

 

Yesterday, on the eve of an anticorruption summit in London, British prime minister David Cameron described Nigeria and Afghanistan as two fantastically corrupt countries. President Buhari who gave the keynote address as the gathering was asked if he was offended and wanted an apology from Mr Cameron be he said that was not necessary.

 

Instead, President Buhari added that rather than an apology, what he would like from Britain is for it to return all of Nigeria's stolen wealth. In 1897, British troops sacked the old Benin Empire carting away loads of priceless artefacts, many of which are on display today in the British Museum.

 

President Buhari said: “All I will demand is return of assets. What would I do with an apology? I need something tangible.”

 

“Unfortunately, repatriating stolen assets is tedious, time-consuming and costly. It entails more than just signing of bilateral agreements.”

 

Speaking in London at the Tackling Corruption Together Conference ahead of the International Anti-Corruption Summit to be hosted tomorrow by Mr Cameron, President Buhari said the comments about Nigeria being corrupt do not reflect the current reality. He added that his government is tackling corruption head on and the whole world can see that success is being achieved.

 

However, President Buhari insisted that Nigeria was ready to partner with the UK in order to combat corruption. He added that he hoped the two countries would be able to agree on rules-based architecture to combat corruption at the end of the summit on Thursday.

 

President Buhari said: "I call for the establishment of an anti-corruption infrastructure that will trace and return stolen assets to their countries of origin. Corruption does not differentiate between developed and developing countries and it is serious threat to good governance, peace and security.”

 

He re-emphasised his government's zero tolerance for corruption adding that he would fight the monster, even if many feathers would be ruffled. Since assuming office in May last year, President Buhari has made retrieving funds looted by the previous government his main focus.