President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said his administration would follow due process and respect the rule of law in its war against corruption.
He said in a democratic setting, those suspected of looting treasury could not be arrested based on suspicion as it is applicable under military rule.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President spoke while receiving a delegation from the Foursquare Gospel Church at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
While restating his commitment to recovering all stolen funds, the President was quoted as stressing that the present administration’s efforts in this regard would be fully within the ambit of the law.
“Under military rule, people could be arrested and held on the basis of suspicion, but in a true democracy, anyone accused of an offence must be presumed innocent till pronounced guilty by a court of law,” the President noted.
Buhari said that was why his administration was diligently building up its case against those accused of stealing government funds by getting necessary evidence and facts, before formal charges are brought against them.
He congratulated the Foursquare Church in Nigeria on its 60th anniversary convention which was concluded on Sunday.
In his remarks, the General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church, Rev. Felix Meduoye, lauded the Buhari administration for its positive strides in the war against corruption and insurgency.
He said the church would continue to pray for the peace and prosperity of Nigeria.
