Atiku Abubakar reveals how Obasanjo government recovered stolen funds

Atiku Abubakar has revealed how he and former President Olusegun Obasanjo recovered money allegedly stolen from Nigeria after they took power in 1999.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate said the new administration inherited the government of former military ruler General Sani Abacha.

Atiku said Obasanjo initially reacted angrily to the scale of the alleged looting. However, he said he persuaded the former president to adopt a different approach to recovering the funds.

“We had records of what everyone had stolen,” Atiku said.

He claimed that officials and individuals accused of taking public money were invited to return the funds while being allowed to keep five per cent.

Atiku said he chaired the committee responsible for the recovery effort. He added that former intelligence chief Aliyu Gusau also served on the committee.

According to Atiku Abubakar, the approach helped the government recover money for the country without relying solely on lengthy legal proceedings.

He said the government later established the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as part of wider efforts to tackle corruption.

The EFCC has since become Nigeria’s main agency for investigating and prosecuting financial crimes.

Atiku’s comments come as political parties and presidential contenders position themselves ahead of future elections. His account also highlights the corruption challenges faced by Nigeria’s civilian government when it returned to power in 1999.

However, his claims about the recovery process and the amount of money recovered would require independent verification from official government records.

The former vice-president is now seeking to lead the ADC into the next presidential contest. His comments are likely to renew debate over Nigeria’s past efforts to recover stolen public funds and fight corruption.