…As Osinbajo says Why FG is yet to prosecute some treasury looters***

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday met with some Northern leaders as part of Federal Government’s efforts aimed at ending the incessant farmers-cattle rearers’ clashes in parts of the country.

Among those who attended the meeting held inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja were the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II; the Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammadu Musdafa; and elder statesman Alhaji Ahmed Joda, among other leaders of the Fulani communities.

Those who attended the meeting did not speak with State House correspondents.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, however in a statement described the meeting as the first in a series of national consultations with all relevant groups designed to find a lasting solution to the farmers-herders conflict in parts of the country.

Akande said having met with leaders of the Fulani communities, Osinbajo would focus on other interest groups in subsequent meetings.

He disclosed that at the meeting, previous reports on the conflict were presented by the delegation and causes of the conflict were analysed.

He said the meeting condemned the killing of children and women and highlighted the need for law enforcement and other government agencies to perform their constitutional roles.

In the meantime, Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday said a couple of “strategic advice” from independent sources, anti-corruption committees and special panels set up for the recovery of assets that were allegedly looted by previous government officials, had prevented the current administration from going forward with its desire to prosecute the looters.

He disclosed this at the 2017 celebration of the International Anti-corruption Day organised by the Inter-agency Task Team in Abuja.

He also stated that the government had succeeded in weeding out 50,000 ghost workers from its payroll in the last two years, while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had charged 17 suspects to court for allegedly contributing to the crime.

The vice-president, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Rule of Law, Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran, however explained that many assets were being recovered from those who stole from government.

He said, “The administration has relied a lot on strategic advice, looking at the fight against corruption from a broad perspective, and basically relying on independent advice in order to move forward in fighting corruption.

“It is focused a lot on prevention, and this is one aspect that a lot of people do not talk about so much. Then enforcement, this is the key aspect of the fight against corruption, there has to be accountability for those who basically violate the law.

“Then asset recovery, which is a key element of the fight against corruption. As regards assets recovery, where there has been no conviction, it is because of the strategic advice that we were given.”

Osinbajo also said the government had approved a National Anti-corruption Strategy, with which it would engage all strata of the Nigerian society in the fight against corruption.

Citizen with additional report from Punch