Rattled by the directive handed down by President Muhammadu Buhari that they should return all government property in their possession, government officials who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan have started returning some of the assets they took away as they left office.

LEADERSHIP checks revealed that by yesterday some former top government officials were secretly returning government property, including vehicles, generator sets and furniture to the ministries, agencies and even some departments in Aso Rock where they were taken from.

Those whose families are still occupying government buildings are said to have started asking them to quickly vacate the place on the pretext that they were staying there without their knowledge, after they had left for their respective states or travelled abroad.

A top presidency official told our correspondent that, since yesterday, some of the past government officials, including former President Goodluck Jonathan’s men, had been calling to explain themselves, insisting that some of the property were taken either by their family members or close aides without their consent.

The presidency official, who preferred not to be named in print since his was not the spokesperson of the presidency, noted, however, that despite the last-minute effort being made by this former officials to save their head from the ongoing probe directed by the president, they would still be made to explain their actions which amount to nothing but sharp practices.

He said, “Throughout today (yesterday), we have been receiving calls from some of the former aides and officials of government who claim that whatever was still in their possession were taken and were being kept either by their families members or personal assistants.

“Some even claim that they were aware that their family members were still living in government buildings while they were away in their hometowns, or abroad where they are on vacation. But their explanations amount to nothing but medicine after death. Whether they return the property or not, they must face the law because what the president is angry about is the action itself.”

Asked whether the committee set up to go after the culprits had identified them, he said, “We have the names of most of them on ground already. What the committee is doing at the moment is to ascertain whether due process was followed before they took the property as their personal possessions.

“Once discovered that they did not buy them in line with the monetization process initiated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, they will still be prosecuted.”

President Buhari was said to have set up a committee consisting of security agents and civil servants to identify and recover public assets still with former political appointees.

Confirming the development on Sunday, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, had explained that the aim was not to embarrass anyone but to recover government assets

“That is precisely the case. Even here at the Presidential Villa, there are cars and other property belonging to the government which are yet to be returned. The property belong to the Nigerian people. We are not trying to humiliate anyone by asking them to return their cars or houses,” he said.

Noting that he was not in a position to tell whether the state and local governments were facing similar challenges with retrieving government property from their predecessors, the presidential spokesman added, however, he would not be surprised if that was the case.

According to him, this attitude of holding on to government property even after leaving office must be a natural outcome of the culture of impunity entrenched in the country by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration.

“But change has come. That is why we have to do things differently now”, Shehu said.

He reiterated President Buhari’s commitment to running an austere government that will save the Nigerian people wastage of public funds.

“Imagine how much Nigeria will save by retrieving and reusing these government property instead of purchasing new ones for new government officials,” he said.

http://leadership.ng/news/454622/presidential-directive-jonathans-men-secretly-returning-fg-property

Good move ... Those guys no won go jail .. What about the looted money .. Please we need those cash man must survive



By the way introvert must be sleeping again by now

That is good.

Sai Baba!

Thunder fire ya enemies

well then.... if you are staying a federal government house that hasn't been gazetted nko

they shd return all of it sharp sharp befor d long arm of d law catch dem.

Government of propaganda!!! I do not doubt that money was indeed looted by previous Government officials but the rate of propaganda by the APC is becoming nauseating.

The order was issued just yesterday and now this ridiculous story barely 24 hours later

Nice move

“But change has come. That is why we have to do things differently now”, Shehu said.

PMB seems to be gathering momentum albeit, snail paced. I pray he sustains this and rides it to a logical conclusion in less than 60 Eke market days.

midolian:
Sai Baba!

Thunder fire ya enemies

GBAGAM!!! Our land shall rise!

Good! At least that my neighbor that had one hilux, one lexus SUV and a Toyota Prado all with presidency number plates is now gonna return them. Thank God Kelson won't be able to use the SUVs and the fact that police doesn't stop him for searching when on any of those vehicles to... Now we're the same. Buhari thank you o

chukwudi44:
Government of propaganda!!! I do not doubt that money was indeed looted by previous Government officials but the rate of propaganda by the APC is becoming nauseating.

The order was issued just yesterday and now this ridiculous story barely 24 hours later

There's no propaganda anywhere. Simply tell those officials whom you possibly know eg Jonathan, Diezani and co to return the government properties in their custody.

Bluetooth2:


There's no propaganda anywhere. Simply tell those officials whom you possibly know eg Jonathan, Diezani and co to return the government properties in their custody.

Previous government officials including Obasanjo, IBB,Tinubu, Fashola Amaechi etc

handie:
Good! At least that my neighbor that had one hilux, one lexus SUV and a Toyota Prado all with presidency number plates is now gonna return them. Thank God Kelson won't be able to use the SUVs and the fact that police doesn't stop him for searching when on any of those vehicles to... Now we're the same. Buhari thank you o

So that is your only concern? To be on the same level with you?

Chubhie:

PMB seems to be gathering momentum albeit, snail paced. I pray he sustains this and rides it to a logical conclusion in less than 60 Eke market days.

Momentum only on the pages of newspapers and online forums

And you are in charge of inventory, right. If PMB could find one true corrupt individual, you think he wouldn't make a public spectacle of the individual. Your party is so pathetic

midolian:



The presidency official, who preferred not to be named in print since his was not the spokesperson of the presidency....

The new trend of Nigerian journalism. Sources sources and more sources.

chukwudi44:

So that is your only concern? To be on the same level with you?

quite ur mouth dia! I know that it hurts u pretty bad but I ask this question. Was it theirs to keep in the first place? Now both of us go dey use unofficial number plates. Wail put if e too pain u.... Expecting ur master barcanista to write an article on this.

Goodluck Jonathan should be locked up in prison for the rest of his life if he looted public funds.
Why is Buhari not pressuring :
# Tinubu ??
#Obasanjo ??
#Rochas Okorocha ??
#Amechi ??
# Lamido Sanusi ??

Buhari is just a big joke.

Ok

There is God...

Good

Chai!!! Change is here

These people will bankrupt Nigeria if we let them.

issokay

I don't believe this news.....Propaganda and lies has been hallmark of APC since when they were formed. The other day, they told us that the refineries were in full scale production of petroleum products which was not the case....mtchewwww

Propaganda! Propaganda! Propaganda!
I will only take that Dullapo of a president serious, when I see the apc abobakus like timipre sylva, ameachi, fashola and many more in court........

Hmmmmmmmmm,still looking for soft landing


In other news,Order your club jerseys
https://www.nairaland.com/2447345/2015-2016-jerseys-available-affordable/3

Were they supposed to return them publicly?

Even President Buhari who taunted so much about sainthood and public declaration of assets is now saying otherwise, in 'blood day light'.

I don't blame them, anyway.
This is what you get when a traditionally opposition patty stumbles on the helms of affairs.

ok