Britain to help Nigeria recover looted funds in British banks

Britain will help Nigeria recover some looted funds stashed away in British banks by past officials of Africa's most populous country, an official said Friday.

Britain's envoy in Nigeria Paul Awkright said the British government is poised to help Nigeria by providing capacity building, investigative and technical supports in the country's aim to stamp out political corruption.

In Nigeria, political corruption is a persistent phenomenon. Since taking office in May 2015, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has launched a crackdown on endemic graft.

"We are working absolutely with President Buhari to ensure the success of the fight against corruption and Britain will continue to support the government to ensure Nigeria become a society free from corruption," the British high commissioner told local reporters in Abuja.

Already, the West African nation has commenced prosecution of at least 55 officials indicted in looting cases while serving in past cabinets formed in the West African country, the government announced early this week.

Records have shown that at least the sum of 6.72 billion U.S. dollars, more than a quarter of last year's national budget, were allegedly stolen by the officials who served the country between 2006 and 2013, Nigeria's minister of information, Lai Mohammed, told a press conference in Abuja.

Among past government officials standing trial in ongoing corruption cases in Nigeria include 15 former governors, four former ministers, 12 public servants at federal and state levels.

Nigeria is also investigating the fraud suspected in the arms procurement fund, of more than 2 billion dollars, which was allegedly diverted into accounts of individuals instead of what it was meant for. Endit