$100bn stolen from Africa yearly’

African Heads of State have been urged to stop the theft of over $100bn representing some 25 per cent of Africa’s Gross Domestic Products, stolen every year from the continent by local and international collaborators.

The stolen funds were said to be enough to transform Africa in one year into one of the most beautiful continents where good roads, social security, access to health and education are provided for the teeming population currently ravaged by poverty, famine and hunger.

These were the demands by participants at the 33rd Anti-Corruption Situation Room conference held in Abuja with support from the MacArthur Foundation where they also called for an International Anti-Corruption Court that would prosecute Africans who steal public funds.

According to them, countries in Europe and America that receive such illicit funds should also be prosecuted.

The conference organised by the anti-corruption organisation, Human and Environmental Development Agenda, (HEDA Resource Centre) was attended by the former Prime Minister of Senegal and member of Club De Madrid, Aminata Toure.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the Communication Officer of HEDA, Nurudeen Salako, said the Club of Madrid is a gathering of some 100 former Presidents and Prime Ministers covering over 70 countries.

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Representatives of African Union Advisory Board on Corruption, Economic Community of West African States, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Commissioner, Anti-Corruption Commission of Sierra Leone, International Anti-Corruption Steering Treaty Drafting Committee, IACC, Justice Richard Goldstone, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), former Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Peter Umeadi, are among many global anti-corruption experts that took part in the conference.

The request to stop the massive looting of public funds was part of the recommendation made by the participants.

After deliberations, the participants’ said corruption is a global problem and remains a major impediment to economic growth, human development and prosperity.

“Corruption is a threat to development, weakens institutions, fuels poverty and endangers stability across Africa.

Corruption is fueling war, misery and extremism across Africa.

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The government and the people need to unite to put an end to the scourge,” the statement emphasized.

The participants called on the continent to frame a discussion of corruption around local realities.

They observed that corruption is growing wings to the extent that fears of corporate capture of the state are real.

Obstacles occasioned by privileges that place selected people above law and order should be removed.

Stolen funds should be repatriated by host countries not just the capital but also the excess interests that proceeds from years of banking such illicit funds”, they said in the recommendation.

African countries were urged to give living narratives to corruption issues as they affect education, health, security in a way that the ordinary people can easily connect and understand.