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20th September
By Chinedu Offor,Correspondent, Washingvton DC.
The International Police Organisation (Interpol) is closely watching Nigerian officials on foreign trips, based on the request of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This is preparatory to the plan by the EFCC to step up investigation of those seeking elective office and those planning to quit at the end of their tenure.
The United States has promised to close its doors to Nigerian officials who Abuja alleges are putting final touches to plans to flee the country before Christmas.
Sources said any one on a dossier handed over to both Interpol and American officials may be invited for "routine" questioning and could be arrested on the complaints of the Nigerian Government.
Abuja has leveled allegations against the officials which would form the basis for their questioning by international law enforcement agencies.
EFCC Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, justified the action in a speech in Dubai, United Arab Emirates as "the beginning of a swoop on politicians in an effort to stop corrupt citizens from taking part in next years polls.
"We are going to put more corrupt persons in the cage. We must fast track our development by getting rid of bad leaders in our country."
He said contrary to criticism that the EFCC targets opponents of President Olusegun Obasanjo, his job is for the good of the country.
"We are going to get those who are corrupt, the thieves among us. We must stop them from leading us again. Any person who has a questionable character will never contest election in this country again."
Interpol acts when a host government has sufficient evidence against an official who would be arrested through a warrant and handed over to the home government.
"The Nigerian Government has made such a case against several officials through the EFCC and the ICPC and we would act on those complaints at the appropriate time," Interpol sources stated.
The World Bank has also declared it would assist Nigeria to trace and return all looted funds as part of its efforts to assist in the country's development.
A statement from the office of the bank in Washington confirmed that Nigeria has approached it for help in its anti-corruption crusade.
The bank recently listed Nigeria as being on the verge of collapse because of institutionalised graft.
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