Lere Ojedokun, Daily Champion (Lagos)
July 15, 2005

Some highly placed Nigerians allegedly involved in money laundering and other economic crimes are to be arrested and prosecuted under a recent understanding reached between the federal government and the Paris Club of creditors.

President Olusegun Obasanjo who dropped the hint in Abuja yesterday, said the measure was among the conditions handed down to Nigeria by the club before it granted $18 billion or 60 per cent debt relief to the country.

The revelation came as a challenge was thrown in Daura, Katsina State, with the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) presidential candidate in the 2003 general elections, Major-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), asking the government to shed more light on the conditions under which it obtained the 60 per cent debt cancellation.

Speaking on the issue when a delegation from Kwara State led by Gov. Bukola Saraki visited him at State House, Abuja, President Obasanjo said dossiers on the unidentified culprits were shown to him during the process of negotiating debt relief, stating that those involved would be picked up as soon as detailed information on them was made available
to the government.

Full Story: Daily Champion