By Daniel Edu, Kaduna
Evangelist Victor Uwajeh, a former Special Investigator to the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Asset (SPIPP) and an international investigator based in the United Kingdom, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intensify the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
Uwajeh, who also served as a consultant to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), urged the Tinubu administration to prioritize the recovery of stolen funds by politically exposed individuals and government agents.
In a statement released in Abuja on Tuesday, Uwajeh recommended specific areas for recovery efforts, including the oil subsidy scam, non-remittances and crude oil liftings, crude oil swap agreements, offshore crude oil processing agreements, duty waiver fraud, and rice subsidy fraud.
The statement also advised the Tinubu administration to conduct thorough investigations into various federal government agencies to address rampant cases of fraud.
Evangelist Uwajeh further emphasized the need for President Tinubu to demonstrate political will in combating corruption and impunity in Nigeria.
He stated, “The looting of public funds has become endemic in Nigeria, and this is being done with impunity, as the perpetrators are aware that they will face no consequences for their crimes.”
Uwajeh also highlighted the importance of implementing the Presidential Executive Order No. 008 of 2018 (Amended 2019) on the Voluntary Offshore Assets Regularization Scheme (VOARS). He believed that the implementation of this executive order would significantly assist the government and serve as a game-changer in curbing the acquisition of assets through illicit means by politically exposed individuals and their associates.
While commending President Tinubu for selecting competent Security Chiefs, particularly the appointment of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as the National Security Adviser, Uwajeh described Ribadu as an expert and reliable compatriot.
In conclusion, Uwajeh urged President Tinubu to prioritize capacity and excellence when appointing individuals to his administration, emphasizing the need to avoid mediocrity.