A new task force has been set up to ensure the effective recovery of over N5 trillion debts owed the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity in the Office of the Vice President Mr Laolu Akande, has said.
In a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja, said the directive for the renewed effort for the recovery of debts was given by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during a meeting with board members and management of AMCON and selected heads of government agencies at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He said the agencies involved in the recovery are the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministry of Justice and Federal Ministry of Transport and heads of AMCON.
He said the task force would be working to develop and implement new strategies that would ensure that government’s determination to recover the money is speedily achieved.
“The key is collaboration. We need a small team comprising these agencies to look at the next steps that we need to take, especially the criminal aspect, forfeiture, and all of that,” he said.
He said the Vice President directed the task force to look at the top 20 AMCON defaulters closely and develop a plan of action that would bring results.
AMCON chairman Mr Muiz Banire said almost 67 per cent of the outstanding N5 trillion debt is owed by just 20 individuals and entities.
He said the agency had been “trying its best in its attempt to recover this through the civil judicial process, but had encountered several challenges.”
