Abia North Senator and former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to introduce a two-year amnesty window for former public officials accused of diverting government funds, allowing them to return the money without facing prosecution.
Kalu made the proposal during an appearance on News Central TV’s 60 Minutes With Mr Kay, where he argued that recovering the allegedly diverted funds could help strengthen Nigeria’s economy.
He said, “President Tinubu should give people pardon, because between the houses in Abuja, if you search all the houses, you might have over 50, 60 billion lying down there.”
According to the senator, money allegedly kept in private residences is effectively removed from the formal financial system and cannot contribute to economic activity.
He said, “People who keep money in their houses, and it’s not right; it’s not the right thing to do. It’s not in the banking system. It’s not in the banking system that could have helped this economy to grow.”
Kalu proposed that the amnesty should cover funds allegedly taken from the government since Nigeria gained independence in 1960, regardless of where the money is currently being kept.
“So I would like President Tinubu to give a window of two years and say, no matter from 1960, no matter where you keep the money, return it to Nigeria, nobody will touch you. You are pardoned,” he said.
He added that such a policy could encourage individuals holding the alleged funds to repatriate them and make the money available for economic activities.
“So let people repatriate this money and use it for the benefit of this economy,” Kalu said.
Kalu’s proposal therefore focuses on recovering allegedly looted public funds through a temporary amnesty rather than immediate prosecution, with the expectation that returned funds would re-enter the financial system and support economic growth.
