NEWS
“President Tinubu Should Give People Pardon” — Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu Pleads, Urges Two-Year Amnesty for Return of Looted Funds
Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Orji Uzor Kalu, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to create a two-year amnesty window for former Nigerian leaders and public officials accused of looting public funds to voluntarily return the money in exchange for a pardon.
Kalu argued that billions of naira allegedly kept in private residences could be recovered and redirected into the Nigerian economy, potentially providing additional resources for development and economic growth.
The former Abia State governor made the proposal while featuring on News Central TV’s 60 Minutes With Mr Kay, where he spoke about the need for the Federal Government to explore alternative approaches to recovering allegedly stolen public funds.
Kalu 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.
“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.
“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.
“So let people repatriate this money and use it for the benefit of this economy.”
Kalu maintained that large sums of money allegedly accumulated by some former public officials may be outside the formal banking system, arguing that returning such funds to circulation could provide a boost to the economy.
He called for the government to establish a clearly defined window through which individuals holding allegedly diverted public funds could return the money without facing prosecution, provided they complied with the terms of the proposed amnesty.
According to the senator, the focus should be on recovering the funds and ensuring that they are put to productive use rather than allowing them to remain idle in private residences.
Kalu’s proposal effectively calls for a shift in emphasis from prosecution alone to voluntary recovery, with the government offering pardon as an incentive for individuals to return funds allegedly taken from the public purse.
He also suggested that the proposed two-year period should cover funds allegedly diverted over several decades, stressing that individuals should be encouraged to bring the money back into Nigeria regardless of when or where it was allegedly kept.
The senator believes that if successfully implemented, the initiative could return substantial resources to the formal economy and make additional funds available for national development.
His comments add to the ongoing national debate over corruption, recovery of public assets and measures that could help Nigeria strengthen its financial base and stimulate economic growth.