JUST IN: Abacha’s loot not for elections, Senator tells Buhari

The Senator representing the Jos South/Jos East federal constituency, Dachung Bagos, on Wednesday cautioned the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to ensure proper implementation of the recovered 23 million Abacha loot returned by the US government.

He warned the presidency to ensure that the recovered funds are not diverted to elections and electioneering just like it was done in 2018.

The senator made the statement when he appeared on Politics Today, a programme on Channels TV.

He said, “These funds are critical and we want Nigerians to be aware of the situation because we don’t want the funds diverted to elections at the last minute of the administration.

“In 2018, it was during election period that the N5,000 social intervention programme was initiated and it was through Abacha’s loot.

“They have said it is for infrastructural projects but let it not be that funds will be paid but projects won’t be completed. He added.

The senator also berated the presidency for not carrying along the legislative arm on the processes taken to recover the 23 million Abacha loot returned by the US government which is contrary to section 12 sub-section 1 of the constitution.

“I can tell you that no one including the leadership of the national assembly was carried along in signing this agreement. We just sat down and heard like every other Nigerian that the executive recovered loots and allocated the same amount to various projects that they desire.

“According to section 12 subsection 1 of the 1999 constitution as amended, any agreement or treaty that is signed on behalf of Nigeria by the federation needs to be rectified by the national assembly. Most of the agreements have not been brought to the national assembly to rectify and it is dangerous.”

He also pointed accusing fingers at the executive arm for not considering the immediate needs of Nigerians before allocating the returned funds to projects noting that utmost priority ought to be given to ASUU strike and ensuring students return back to classes.