President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, 1oth June 2019 welcomed the support of the Italian government to help recover and repatriate illegally deposited Nigerian stolen funds in foreign countries. The President made the assertion when he received a delegation from the Italian Parliament led by Senator Vito Petrocelli, Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs at State House, Abuja.
Also on the entourage is Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Stefano Pontesilli, who conveyed the message of the Italian Government to President Buhari that, ‘‘We are willing to cooperate with your administration 100 per cent on illicit assets repatriation.’’
Responding, President Buhari commended the Italian government for demonstrating ‘‘open-mindedness’’ and willingness to cooperate with Nigeria on the issue of repatriation of stolen funds. Buhari appealed that developed countries do the needful on reviving Lake Chad.
The President thanked the Italian government for its policy of accommodating displaced persons, particularly African refugees.
He also appreciated the Italian delegation for emphasizing the cordial relationship between Nigeria and Italy and the need to establish a ‘‘bilateral committee on friendship’’ that would identify areas of cooperation and work collectively.
Earlier, Senator Petrocelli had told President Buhari that the delegation, which included Senator Tony Chike Iwobi, Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, a Nigerian and first African to be elected into the Italian Parliament, was in the country to attend to the June 12 Democracy Day celebrations.
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