I Will Continue to Support Anti-Corruption Agencies in Recovery of Illicit Fund – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that his administration will continue to support anti-corruption agencies to recover all ill-gotten wealth and prosecute offenders.

The President added that he will help in full recovery of physical assets that will be sold, and the proceeds would be remitted to the treasury.

Buhari gave the assurance while speaking at the National summit on ‘‘Diminishing Corruption in the Public Service’’ organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Tuesday in Abuja.

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‘‘Enforcement activities by anti-corruption agencies continue to reveal that some public officers possess properties and assets way beyond their legitimate sources of income.

‘‘Asset recovery cases in court also reveal that some of these criminally-minded public officials are quick to disown these properties during investigation and in court.

‘‘Recovered assets will continue to be deployed in the provision of needed infrastructure and social welfare programs. The National Social Investment Program is already utilizing recovered funds to touch the lives of vulnerable Nigerians.

‘‘I, therefore, commend the partnership between the ICPC and the National Social Investment Office to ensure that beneficiaries of government social intervention programs are not short-changed along the line by unpatriotic officials,’’ he said.

While noting that corruption is the cause of many major problems in our country, Buhari said ‘‘it is a catalyst for poverty, insecurity, weak educational system, poor health facilities and services and many other ills of our society.

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‘‘This government is working hard to overcome such ills. Corruption generally and public sector corruption in particular, inhibits the ability of government to deliver infrastructure and basic services to the people.

‘‘That is why I have reiterated on many occasions that corruption is an existential threat to Nigeria. Corruption is furthermore, a major threat to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and the socio-economic transformation we are all working hard to bring about in Nigeria.’’