I’ll Probe Missing $20bn Oil Money – Buhari

Having determine to fight the high level of corruption in the country, President-elect General Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his intention to launch a probe into the alleged missing $20 billion Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) oil revenue.

Buhari, who stated that the manner in which the current administration handled the issue did not conform to global practices, also hinted that some people in the outgoing administration of Dr Goodluck Jonathan had started returning looted money to the treasury.

The president-elect stated this yesterday at the party’s presidential campaign headquarters in Abuja while receiving members of Adamawa State All Progressives Congress (APC) who were at the office to congratulate him on his victory at the poll.

The allegation of missing fund was raised by the former governor of Central Bank, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

The controversial allegation was investigated by the National Assembly and later the federal government ordered a forensic audit which was carried out by PricewatercooperHouse (PcW).

The audit firm had long submitted its report, clearing the management of the NNPC of misappropriating $20 billion, but federal government is yet to publish the audit report.

Addressing the issue again, Buhari stated that the way the issue was handled was not standard practice as the outgoing government only resorted to sacking the whistle blower, asserting that he would definitely revisit the matter of the missing oil money.

Buhari, who spoke in Hausa language via an interpreter, expressed regret that instead of investigating the issue of the missing fund raised by the former Central Bank governor and now Emir of Kano, Ahaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the federal government swept it under the carpet and suspended Sanusi from the office

Buhari also disclosed that he had received information that some people in the Jonathan administration had started returning looted money to the treasury

“In terms of corruption, I heard that some people have started returning some money, but I cannot believe it until I go there and see It. I will revisit the $20 billion missing allegation NNPC oil fund,” Buhari said.

On unemployment and job creation, he said that it was a great danger for the nation to have such teeming youths without jobs, adding that he would use natural resources and agriculture to tackle the problem.

Commenting on Boko Haram, the president-elect said all hands must be on deck to flush out the terrorist group.

In his speech, the Adamawa State governor-elect, Senator Umaru Jibrilla Bindo, requested special intervention from the incoming government in the area of infrastructure. He decried the neglect of the state by the Peoples Democratic Party-led federal government.