- No comments -Adeosun
By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi
AS President Muhammadu Buhari visits China, human rights activist and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, has threatened to institute a court case if the Federal Government goes ahead to borrow money from outsiders.
As part of the president’s itinerary, Nigeria would negotiate a $2 billion loan for the development of infrastructure.
In an April 8 letter to Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Falana said rather than pursue loans, government should recover $200 billion allegedly taken out of the country.
Falana also warned Adeosun that Nigeria should not contemplate collecting $2 billion loan from the Chinese government.
Such funds, he said, could be deployed to finance the budget and critical infrastructure.
“In urging the Federal Government to desist from taking the loan of $2 billion from China or any other country, we are compelled to advise the government to intensify efforts to recover the nation’s wealth which has been criminally diverted by a handful of local and foreign looters.”
In addition, Falana urged government that relevant bodies could be directed to recover stolen funds rather than resort to borrowing.
“In the light of the foregoing, we are compelled to call on the Federal Government to muster the political will and courage to recover the aforesaid withheld or stolen wealth of not less than $200 billion belonging to the Nigerians.
“However, if you (Mrs. Adeosun) refuse to accede to our request, we shall have no alternative than to initiate legal proceedings at the Federal High Court with a view to restraining the Federal Government from further plunging the nation into external indebtedness…”he said.
Menahwile, Adeosun’s Special Media Adviser, Mr. Festus Akanbi simply said “no comments” when Daily Sun asked for the minister’s reaction yesterday evening.