Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday said releasing the names of persons from whom the Federal Government has recovered looted funds and assets may jeopardise ongoing investigations.
The government at the weekend released a list of sums of monies and assets already recovered in the last one year without the names of individuals involved.
Speaking during a meeting with a delegation of the European Union led by the EU Ambassador in Nigeria, Mr. Michel Arrion, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Osinbajo said not releasing the names is the best way to go.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo said: “We have released the list of recovered loot, we know people are asking for the names, but releasing the names may jeopardize ongoing investigations.”
He also explained that the federal government is engaging leaders and people of the Niger Delta regarding the spate of attacks on oil installations in the area, an act he stated amounts to economic sabotage.
Beside reaching out to the people in the area, he said the government is also beefing up security in the area.
According to him, the focus of the Buhari presidency “is to ensure that the man on the street in the Niger Delta receives the benefit from all that is available there”.
The Vice President also called on the leaders in the region to be accountable to the people.
Osinbajo added that government is working round the clock to minimise the losses arising from the attacks.
“We are talking, we are ensuring that we minimise losses and we are stepping up security. We are also engaging the international oil companies, IOCs, to see what options exists.”