A former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari has the political will to root out corruption in Nigerian public service.

While urging Nigerians to rally behind Buhari, Ribadu, the former presidential candidate said the will to battle sharp practices to a standstill had become the most glaring reputation of President Buhari’s government.

Ribadu who stated this in a speech he delivered at a forum on anti-corruption war in Abuja yesterday, said assets forfeiture functions as deterrence to others as those who illegally enrich themselves get stripped of that wealth overnight.

“Similarly, through proceeds of final asset forfeiture, government can make extra money that can be channelled to projects that would enable growth and development of the state,” he said.

While making his presentation with an analysis of the assets forfeiture policy of the government and its potential impact on the larger society, Ribadu said, “Asset forfeiture is an integral component of the anti-corruption work as it serves many purposes within the anticorruption framework.

“First, it serves as restitution in the sense that what was ill gotten is returned to the right owners.”

Ribadu also called for more transparency in government’s handling of assets under forfeiture, saying a forced eviction of residents of a property or closure of a company locked in forfeiture battle with the government could deal a major dent on the anti-corruption campaign.

“It should also be made sure that the right of the individual to enjoy the ownership and use of his property is guaranteed. This calls for flexibility so as not to be harmful to the society in the process of restraining an asset by way of sending innocent workers away from work.