Buhari recounts: I was ousted, detained for fighting corruption

Nigeria's president, Muhammadu Buhari has said he was ousted out as a military head of state in 1985 because he fought corrupt people in the country. President Buhari said he was also detained for the same reason, Punch reports. 

Speaking during the commissioning of the new corporate headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja on Tuesday, May 15, the president said all the corrupt individuals who were arrested during his military administration were released. He also said thatstolen funds recovered from them were also returned to these individuals. 

However, reiterating the promise by the present administration, President Buhari said this government would not relent in its promise to fight corruption. 

President Buhari said: "This government promised to fight corruption but corruption will continue to fight back. (during) my first attempt to fight corruption, corruption fought back successfully." I was removed as the head of state, detained for three years and people who we recovered stolen money from were given back their money and I remained in detention up until my mother had to die to save me from detention," President Buhari said. 

Stating that his administration has succeeded in recovering trillions of naira "stolen by those people without conscience', the president said denied allegations that his government embarked on witch-hunts in the fight against corruption. 

He said: “Throughout my journey in national service and since 2015, I have made a very conscious decision to pursue a vigorous fight against corruption in public life. Since 2015, we have made significant progress in the fight against corruption. 

Everyone now knows that corrupt officials will be held to account, no matter how long it takes. We have recovered and are still recovering trillions of naira that were stolen in the past few years by people without conscience. We are pursuing recoveries everywhere and are making sure that anyone who has been found culpable is made to answer for his or her crime under the law. 

It is my hope and expectation that the judiciary, which is a critical stakeholder and partner in the war against corruption, would continue to collaborate with the executive to bring corrupt people to book," President Buhari added. While admitting that the fight against corruption is not an easy one, President Buhari further called on the legislature to provide the legal framework to enable the anti-graft agencies fight corruption in Nigeria. 

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