Former US ambassador speaks about corruption in Nigeria

- John Campbell said President Buhari's war on corruption was being pushed back

- The former ambassador wondered how Patience Jonathan was able to accumulate $35 million

- The money was frozen by the EFCC in her account

John Campbell who served as the United States ambassador to Nigeria has described former First Lady Patience Jonathan, as an arrogant and flamboyant person who was greatly disliked.

This was contained in a piece he wrote titled ‘Nigerian President Buhari’s Sisyphean Efforts’ and published on Council on Foreign Relations’ website on Friday, October 6.

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Campbell also wondered how Mrs Jonathan who spent her career in the public service accumulated $35 million.

He stated: “Patience Jonathan as the first lady was flamboyant, arrogant, and widely disliked. She has yet to be convicted of a crime. However, it is curious how a person who spent most of her career in public service could accumulate an acknowledged $35 million in a poor country.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been investigating the former first lady including freezing her account containing $35 million.

Campbell also spoke about President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war saying it was suffering pushback from opposition members especially from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said: “There is pushback against President Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign, especially among the opposition Peoples Democratic Party. Some claim that Buhari is using the EFCC to go after his political enemies. In the predominately Christian parts of the country, there are also murmurs that the anti-corruption campaign is part of a Muslim effort against Christians.

“The Committee on Public Petitions in the House of Representatives has issued a warrant for the arrest of Magu(EFCC boss) because of his failure to appear before them with respect to a petition by Patience Jonathan. The committee’s move appears to be led by southern, Christian, PDP representatives.

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“While it is true that under President Buhari, most of the high-profile investigations have been of PDP former officials in the Jonathan administration who are predominately Christian, these people were also, of course, in positions where they could loot public funds. Further, Christians dominated the Jonathan government, though the EFCC has also investigated Sambo Dasuki, Jonathan’s Muslim national security adviser, who remains under house arrest.”

Meanwhile, the attorney-general of the federation, Abubakar Malami, said that Nigeria will not bring back Diezani Alison-Madueke to face corruption charges.

The former minister of petroleum had urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to compel the AGF to bring her back to Nigeria from the UK but The Punch reports that Malami who is also the minister of justice said there was no need to.

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Source: Legit.ng