The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has called on former British parliamentarian, Eric Stuart Joyce to beam his searchlight on the billions of “pound sterling siphoned from Nigeria’s shores to British banks and other investment sources in England,” rather than commenting on President Muhammadu Buhari’s health.
Recall that Joyce had recently insisted that Buhari, who is currently on a medical vacation in London was dead.
Joyce had urged Nigerians to ask questions about Buhari’s health, stressing that in a democracy, Nigerians should not be kept in the dark about the president’s health.
But reacting to the claim by the former British lawmaker, MURIC said the former British lawmaker should use his connections to expose fraud activities.
In a statement signed by its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola and sent to DALY POST, the group admonished Joyce to issue a public statement on the repatriation of monies stolen and hidden in British banks by Nigerians.
The statement reads, “The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) thanks Mr. Joyce for his advice. We agree that satisfying the electorate’s curiosity engenders robust debate in a democracy. But that is only ceteris paribus.
“There are other more important factors which may determine whether or not it is advisable to disclose the president’s health. Ours is a democracy of voodoo, death-wish, bolekaja, kleptocracy, ethnic jingoism and religious fanaticism.
“This is contrary to what obtains in free democracies like Britain and the United States.
“While we may want to stop short of asking Mr. Joyce to desist from interfering in Nigeria’s internal affairs, we are constrained to seize the opportunity of his interest in our country to plead with him to divert his interest to the billions of sterling pounds siphoned from Nigeria’s shores to British banks and other investment sources in England.
“It must interest Mr. Joyce that the British economy is being propped up with money stolen from Nigeria. We are urging the ex-parliamentarian to use his connections particularly among his friends who are still in parliament.
“Nothing stops the ex-lawmaker from issuing a public statement to compel the British government to repartriate money stolen from this country.
“MURIC contends that Britain and the rest of Europe, particularly Switzerland which operates secret bank account system thereby shielding thieves from exposure and subsequent prosecution are aiding and abetting corruption in the Third World. The looters of our common wealth would not have succeeded without the existence of such leeways.
“Mr. Joyce will agree with MURIC that countries where stolen money is kept is an accessory after the fact. Again, countries that benefit in any way from the proceeds of stolen money have a burden of morality on their conscience.
But is Mr. Joyce ready to help free Britain from its moral burden?
“In conclusion, we assert that the ball is in Mr. Joyce court. Whether to give the issue of Nigeria’s stolen money in British banks (oiling British economy) the same publicity as he gave the president’s health remain to be seen in the next few days.
“Joyce may want to use his influence in the House of Commons (where we believe he must still have many friends) to stir up a debate on the need to repartriate Nigeria’s stolen money.
“This will be more honourable than stirring up needless controversy on the Nigerian president’s health.”
