Osinbajo hits backs at critics of war against corruption saying there will be no let up in the campaign

VICE president Professor Yemi Osinbajo has reacted further to the ongoing debate about the corruption that prevailed during the last administration pointing out that Nigerians have not forgotten the damage caused by the rampant abuse of public trust and grand larceny of the era.

Over recent weeks, Professor Osinbajo has hit out at the previous administration of former president Dr Goodluck Jonathan, saying it looted the economy during its four years in office. He pointed out that apart from this, the administration also went on an inexplicable spending spree towards the end of its tenure, using public money to fund its election campaign.

Members of the Jonathan administration, however, have hit back, saying the current government is only paying lip service to the fight against corruption. They claim that apart from the fact that corruption is still rampant in government circles, that the Buhari administration is selective with its fight, only going after political opponents.

Responding to these claims, Professor Osinbajo has told the opposition Peoples Democratic Party that Nigerians have not forgotten the theft  that characterised the past administration. Laolu Akande, Professor Osinbajo's spokesman, noted that those who are asking people to simply forget the blatant violation of public trust and the pillaging of the nation’s commonwealth witnessed in the past, are saying wittingly or otherwise that we should forget where the shoe actually pinched and pretend as if the social raping of the nation never occurred.

Mr Akande said: “We have a situation where a former first lady came out openly to claim over $171m which was found in her accounts and you think Nigerians will simply overlook that. You have a situation where hundreds of billions have been recovered including the discovery of $43m cash in an apartment in Ikoyi and you think Nigerians will simply forget that?"

He stated that it is mere wishful thinking to imagine that Nigerians would just forget all of these colossal atrocities in the management and disbursement of public funds. Asked on the progress of prosecution, Mr Akande said there are tonnes of corruption cases arising from the conduct of the past administration, adding that the establishment of special courts for the speedy trial of corruption and other criminal cases, should help speed them up.

He added that the presidency is beefing up the prosecution of such cases by planning to bring a number of senior lawyers with high integrity ratings to play active roles and lead the prosecution of some of the cases. According to Mr Akande, Nigerians should be rest assured that the Buhari administration will not relent in the pursuit of those corruption cases.

Mr Akande added: “We have a number of lawyers, senior lawyers, people with solid reputations, who have volunteered to assist in prosecuting the cases and soon the prosecuting agencies will be assigning specific cases to them. To those who have asked what has happened to the several instances of corruption that we have spoken about, we say, wait and see.

“Sometimes the wheels of Justice may be slow, as it is often said but they grind exceedingly fine. Let Nigerians know that justice would be served in the end and the world will see it as we have a president and vice president who will not take no for an answer on this matter.”