Bello argued that the huge amount taken out of the country illegally
would have made a considerable impact on the Nigerian economy.
The LCCI boss stated this at a recent conference tagged: “Anti-money
Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Identity Theft Management,”
organised by the Lagos branch of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of
Nigeria (CIBN).
While stating that money launders used to take away millions of naira
in the past, he alleged that the crime has grown into billions of naira.
The trend, according to him, calls for greater regulation as a result
of the effect on the Nigerian economy.
"It is naive to think that Western nations will help us to police the
theft of our patrimony. In many ways, they benefit from our corruption,
"he alleged.
He added: "Therefore, there is need for Nigerians to fight for
themselves through public enlightenment processes and accountability by
Nigerian officials.”
He said that campaign against money laundering and terrorist financing
should also at the fore front of any political campaign as well as the
on-going national conference.
