Jonathan's ministers stole one million barrels crude daily, we will arrest and prosecute them – Buhari



President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday confirmed that he had started receiving some documents which indicted some former ministers and other top government officials of massive fraud, including oil theft, Mr president also stated that he would go ahead to arrest and prosecute them for looting and stealing of Nigeria’s crude oil.

Buhari said the documents revealed that some top government officials moved as much as one million barrels of crude oil per day for their personal purposes.



The President stated these while speaking at an interactive session with Nigerians in the Diaspora at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC, United States, in continuation of his four-day official visit to the country.

He alleged that such officials also opened as many as five bank accounts abroad for the purpose of laundering money.

While describing the amount of money involved in the shady deals as mind-boggling, the President promised that his administration would use the indicting documents and others still being compiled to clamp down on the culprits and prosecute them.

He also said while many Nigerians nicknamed him ‘Baba Go Slow’ because of the delay in forming his cabinet, he added that he would prefer to be “slow and steady” in taking decisions.

He said by the time the process of compiling and identifying the shady deals and those behind them were completed, his administration would approach countries where the loots were kept to assist in repatriating them.

The President added, “We are now looking for evidences of shipping some of our crude, their destinations and where and which accounts they were paid and in which country.

“When we get as much as we can get as soon as possible, we will approach those countries to freeze those accounts and go to court, prosecute those people and let the accounts be taken to Nigeria.

“The amount of money is mind-boggling but we have started getting documents. We have started getting documents where some of the senior people in government, former ministers, some of them operated as much as five accounts and were moving about one million barrels per day on their own. We have started getting those documents.

“I assure you that whichever documents we are able to get and subsequently trace the sale of the crude or transfer of money from ministries, departments, Central Bank, we will ask for the cooperation of those countries to return those monies to the Federation Accounts.

“And we will use those documents to arrest those people and prosecute them. This, I promise Nigerians.”

Buhari faulted the mode of operation of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, saying his administration would check the excesses of the corporation.

The President restated his position on the removal of subsidy, arguing that would bring more hardship to Nigerians.

He however said he would study the debate and take a decision based on his experience.

Buhari stated, “Who is subsidising who? But, people are gleefully talking, ‘remove subsidy’. They want petrol to cost N500 per litre.

“If you are working and subsidy is removed, you can’t control transport, you can’t control market women: the cost of food, the cost of transport.

“If you are earning N20,000 per day and you are living in Lagos or Ibadan, the cost of transport to work and back, the cost of food. You cannot control the market women because they have to pay what transporters charge them.

“If there is a need for removing subsidy, I will study it. With my experience, I will see what I can do. But I am thinking about more than half of Nigerians, who, virtually cannot afford to live.

“Where will they get the money to go to work? How can they feed their families? How can they pay rent? If Nigeria were not an oil producing country – all well and good.

“Our refineries are not working. We have a lot of work to do.”

Buhari decried those he said had started calling him ‘Baba Go Slow’ because he had yet to form his cabinet, weeks after his inauguration.

He cited the example of previous government under the Peoples Democratic Party which spent more than two months to settle down during its 16 years of ruling the country.

He said he would prefer to go slowly and steadily in administering the country.

The President, however, said though his administration might be accused of being slow, it would be steady in fulfilling its campaign promises to Nigerians.

Buhari said, “Within the past two weeks, I am being asked when I am going to form my cabinet. And in some quarters, they are now calling me ‘Baba Go Slow’.

“I am going to go slow and steady. Nigerians should be patient to allow this administration put some sense into governance and deal with corruption.”

He also pledged to study the Diaspora Bill with a view to signing it into law as being demanded by Nigerians in the Diaspora.

The President advised those Nigerians in the Diaspora, looking for government jobs back home to suspend their ambition as the nation’s economy was in a bad shape and it would take his administration about 18 months or more to resuscitate it.

He, however, promised that some of them would be engaged by the Federal Government as consultants to enable them to contribute their quota to national development.
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  1. chai dare is God ooo

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  2. Whatever you need to do, baba please do, time is fast going, we need results sir.

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  3. Wenever i hear PMB speak, i see hope for dis country. I see his emergence as God's interventn for d country. Can u imagine wat has been happenin? Sometymz i can't help but wonder wat wuld av happend if GEJ had won, a plague of hardship wuld torture a ordinary Nigerian. More greaze to ur elbow Mr. President.

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  4. I don't see PMB doing anything worthwhile because we don't need snail speed to tackle our jet aged problem. He lacks the idea n energy to deliver. I can't wait for his tenure to expire.

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    1. If u can't wait u better prepare to move, cos he's going 4 2nd term

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    2. Unfortunately there's nothing you csn about it, so leave with it. He's the change we want

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    3. Anonymous July 22, 2015 at 7:20 PM. Silence is the best answer for a fool like you.

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    4. Ask St.OBJ 1st....Where is PTF and Abacha,s LOOT.....

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    5. GMB brain has corroded.He is not for this generation.2 months in power as president fuel being sold above pump price,no ministers and running country affairs as fulanis leads catle in the bush. wasting nigeria money flying around when we have alot of issues to tackle at home. It will get to alevel when you start inviting US to sleep with your wife before you knoew how to do it right.

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    6. You are big fool for talking about fuel. Is it not the problem created by your PDP and GEJ that is slowing this country down. Why don't you appoint the ministers for him. Since you don't want anything good, how will you value the virtue of patience, responsibility and accountability... Shameless PDP that did not achieve anything and will not allow someone else to work. Confused people, disturbing everybody. We will jail all of you if need be whether you call it selective or not. We will probe the most currupt administration in the history of this country.

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  5. Oh, thank you Sai Buhari. Right from time I know he's the person who can step on all thieves criminals toes. Sai baba we are all behind you. Get all the looted money back and send them to jail. Jonathan and his gang of rogues.

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  6. Mr change your very stupid by telling Nigerians such story, Please give us light that is the important to Nigeria , Stop this probe it will not help us this time , How much money OBJ recover from Abacha ? please just hold on for probe now and give us just light only for this 4 years please .

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    1. It is very clear you lack home training and good morals. People like you should be sent back in time as you are not fit for civilized living. How can you say your President is 'very stupid'. If you do not have respect for him as a person atleast you should respect his office. Administrator, I think you should take of the mask of anonymity so that we know the uncultured people around here. If you feel a need to criticize your president, do it objectively with some regard to his office. Even the bible admonishes us to respect authorities!

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    2. See this mumu, so you no get light for ur house now. Abi you dob experience this kind light since that you uncle dey power. You better stop all this your hate

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    3. The presidency is bigger than the president but b4 now must of who hate Jonathan especially Lai mohammed and call him all sort of names. No matter what president Buhari is now our president and he needs our support.

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  7. Mr change your very stupid by telling Nigerians such story, Please give us light that is the important to Nigeria , Stop this probe it will not help us this time , How much money OBJ recover from Abacha ? please just hold on for this your probe now.... And give us just light only for this 4 years please .

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    1. Anonymous 4:46 AM. I am very disappointed the people like you still exist in Nigeria. Your statement shows your blatant disregard for your elder and disrespect for your parents.

      I suggest that you need to learn good manners before talking in public. President Buhari is older than you and perhaps your parents.

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  8. Some people lack sense to speak on public domain without abusive words, I think editor needs to edit out some of this wording pls.

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  9. Pls editor I tot somebody use to vet comments b4 been posted, though critics are allowed but let it b constructive not abusive, this man is older than some of our us fathers, I wish GMB more divine wisdom.

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  10. PMB is really the messiah Nigeria needs at this time. Thank God for him and please fellow citizens, lets try as much as possible to be constructive and objective in our individual and group opinions devoid of swear words. No one of us has the power to change his or her place of origin and so also does anyone of us all have the power to choose where to come from oil or non-oil producing region. All these were in the likeness of God and the earlier we recognise it the better. The question for thought is 'who endowed the oil and gas where it is discovered?' Nobody and no single individual should claim ownership in the circumstance.

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  11. If we produce all the petrol, diesel and kerosene we need for local consumption in Nigeria, what is the need for subsidy? I believe that is what we should be aiming at. Government can even make a lot of money from this while fuel will become cheaper. There has never been any need for subsidy. Thanks to the Head of State for thinking the way he is.

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  12. Many Nigerians in the diaspora are aiming to operate their own business as entrepreneurs in Nigeria. They need a reliable environment to support the survival and growth of their business with the potential to employ many Nigerians.

    In many developed countries, the government provide limited jobs to the citizens and the private sector employs the highest number of the workforce.

    The FG should continue to tackle corruption everywhere to create a level playing ground for everyone to operate and expand the development of public infrastructure.

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  13. Mr change your very stupid by telling Nigerians such story, Please give us light that is the important to Nigeria , Stop this probe it will not help us this time , How much money OBJ recover from Abacha ? please just hold on for this your probe now.... And give us just light only for this 4 years please .

    ReplyDelete
  14. Mr change your very stupid by telling Nigerians such story, Please give us light that is the important to Nigeria , Stop this probe it will not help us this time , How much money OBJ recover from Abacha ? please just hold on for this your probe now.... And give us just light only for this 4 years please .

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  15. Anonymous 8:17 PM. You are exposing your nakedness and naivety in public. You should cover your head in shame. President Buhari's effort for his few months in power has beaten the many years of former President Jonathan.

    Nigeria oil and gas belong to every citizen equally whether hausa, fulani, edo, ijaw, kanuri, yoruba, ibo and many others.

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  16. When the northern eldeers were stealing petroluem product during the military era nobody was shouting.PMS was being stolen to niger republic through the border no body was arrested or presecuted till date.The nothern elders were sharing OML in south nobody was shouting.We shall continue to fight until Federal govt use resouce to developed the Southern part of the country that contibuted an accountable measure growth for the entire country.

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  17. Nigerians are sick and tired of all these accusations, if PMB is sure of his findings, why doesnt he jst man-up and send these criminals 2 jail. Talk is cheap but action is better.

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  18. Mr go slow do what you can, dnt blame anybody for your old age. Dnt know If you just realised that you are old. 2 months on no ministers coz you want Allah to come and appoint them for you, no Nigerian politician is innocent they all want to get rich. Let me see you try and probe the crooks that brought you out in the first place, then you will ve my respect, your selective judgement doesn't move me.

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    1. You are not well. Did the crooks that brought him steal Nigeria's money? If you have evidence that they stole why don't you send it to EFCC. We will use some of your uncles like GEJ and others as scape goat, then others will adjust. I believe you shouldn't have any problem with that.

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    2. You mean all around him are clean? Let him look closely around while pursuing ex officials. May God assist him.

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  19. Those that are abusing PMB are those that benefited either directly or indirectly from looted money. Since past administration failed to tackle the corruption that why people kept on looting please let this administration tackle this problem of corruption and all of us will enjoy it God bless Nigeria

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  20. So there is this colossal oil theft that is more than enough to alleviate the Nigerians sufferings, 1 million barrels daily, this is still far and shocking from comprehending. That some corrupted decayed shallow brain are still agitating/debating for subsidy removal at this critical and fragile moment to bring another untold hardship to Nigerians who are still immersed in hardship low and dire seeking for urgent alleviation intervention. These culprits and their traces, noting as good for them, but should be made to face ravaging firing squad or slow painful death, reason being that they are also sophisticated terrorists and bokoharam in disguise at even regional and transnational scale.

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  21. So there is this colossal oil theft that is more than enough to alleviate the Nigerians sufferings, 1 million barrels daily, this is still far and shocking from comprehending. That some corrupted decayed shallow brain are still agitating/debating for subsidy removal at this critical and fragile moment to bring another untold hardship to Nigerians who are still immersed in hardship low and dire seeking for urgent alleviation intervention. These culprits and their traces, noting as good for them, but should be made to face ravaging firing squad or slow painful death, reason being that they are also sophisticated terrorists and bokoharam in disguise at even regional and transnational scale.

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  22. I am not a member of any party but I am a citizen of this country. Those PDP members that are accusing Buhari of being slow and so on and so forth are afraid of what will happen to them for ruining the economy of this country. Otherwise how do you think it would take one month to clear the mess that PDP leadership has put this country for all these 16 years? They are accusing him of witch hunting. If your conscience is clear why are you afraid? If you get any APC member that is corrupt why not report him or her to EFCC. I am aware that PDP leadership at all levels were so much corrupt. If not why are they owing salaries to workers? It was the duty of PDP to control the excesses even in APC states because they were in power. Just like Buhari is trying to control corruption Jonathan should have been in control of the states and local govts because he was the President of all of us. He allowed the Governors, the Senators and all other leaders to control him rather than being in control. That was why they did whatever they liked without any questioning. Buhari should be allowed to put things right. He is not all that slow as being peddled by PDP and their fans. You cant clear the mess even within one year.

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