Kayode Fayemi - ‘Buhari might pardon officials who return stolen funds,’ Ex-Governor says

Fayemi also said that Buhari’s promise not to witch-hunt his political opponents did not mean that he wouldn’t prosecute corrupt government officials who served in the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has said that President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, might pardon corrupt politicians who are ready to return stolen funds.

Fayemi also said that Buhari’s promise not to witch-hunt his political opponents did not mean that he wouldn’t prosecute corrupt government officials who served in the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The former Governor made the statements on Monday, April 27, 2015 during an interview on BBC’s HardTalk.

“Corruption is not going to be dealt with by punishment alone. It is also going to be dealt with by incentives to those who are prepared to have a conversion. If you come voluntarily and say, look, I have stolen some money and I am prepared to return the money, Gen. Buhari would not say no to that,” Fayemi said.

“Returning the funds is a form of justice to Nigeria because those funds will now be available for the teeming population. There would be a range of options for dealing with corruption but that does not mean that justice will not take its full course,” he added.

“Buhari said he would not interfere with the judicial process and that if anyone is found guilty of malfeasance or corruption then that the law would take its course. Buhari didn’t mention any individual but anyone who is found guilty or who behaved badly in terms of corruption would be brought to face the law,” Fayemi said.

Buhari has also said that his administration would probe allegations that the sum of $20 billion went missing from the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).