The bill seeking to grant amnesty to treasury looters has been denounced as ‘satanic’ by Hon. Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, the chairman of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on US/Nigeria Relations. The bill which was sponsored by his colleague Linus Okorie,is scheduled for its second reading this July after scaling through the first reading within two weeks of its June 14 introduction. In a chat with newsmen, Agbonayinma stated:“We the 360 members in the House will mobilize against the bill and ensure that it is buried immediately it is introduced on the floor of the House.“I can assure you of that because such a satanic bill can never be allowed to sail through as its output will be retroactive and will further encourage corruption that has eaten so deep into the fabric of our society.“As for those peddling rumors that the speaker, Yakubu Dogara is the one behind it, they should shut their traps because Dogara cannot support a bill that will be counterproductive in Nigeria.“Many Nigerians have been jailed for stealing just N1000 and we are proposing a bill that will further promote corruption? No way; it can’t happen, as we can’t make separate laws for treasury looters in this country.”If the proposed bill goes into law, suspected looters of the nation’s treasury would enjoy full and complete amnesty, not face any probe, inquiry or prosecution, and will not be compelled to disclose the source of their looted funds, as long as they invest their ill-gotten wealth in the country.
Recall that members of the House of Representatives are currently seeking a bill to grant amnesty to those willing to return funds looted from Nigeria's treasury. According to the lawmakers, the bill will provide a three-year amnesty to the looters.