The Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, a coalition of civil society organizations with focus on election monitoring in Nigeria has joined Transparency International in condemning the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, on his recent disparaging comments on Nigeria as a corrupt nation.

In a statement signed by Ibrahim  Zikirullahi, its chairman, the group noted that while it is true that corruption has negatively affected Nigeria, countries that act as receivers of stolen wealth are equally guilty of corruption.

In its reaction to Cameron’s comment on Nigeria and Afghanistan, Transparency International, TI, yesterday issued a statement accusing some Western Countries of aiding and abetting corruption in many parts of the world by acting as custodians of stolen assets.

TMG said: “Our position is that the looters in Nigeria and corrupt elements in West helping to stash illicit monies in their banking systems are equally culpable. The moral opprobrium, and the necessary global action to stop these illicit financial flows, must focus on countries of origin of corrupt monies, as well as recipient countries.

“TMG makes bold to state that the current difficulties being encountered by the present Nigerian leadership in the quest to repatriate looted funds gives the impression that countries like Britain are not sincere about the global anti-graft war. It therefore appears that Britain is keen to continue the kind of exploitative relationship reminiscent of the colonial era, when the resources of the Nigerian people were mercilessly expropriated to serve the interest of the metropole.”

The group stated further that beyond the narrative of endemic corruption in Nigeria, a bigger burden must be placed on countries like Britain, and their offshore tax havens that have served as safe destinations for ill-gotten wealth from Nigeria.

TMG therefore called on the government of Western nations to immediately expedite and fast track action for the repatriation of all Nigerian monies currently domiciled in bank vaults in their banking systems.

TMG said it was morally reprehensible to keep rehashing known stories about corruption in Nigeria while overlooking conditions in the West, which provide incentives for corrupt Nigerians to continue the plunder of the Nigerian treasury.

The group said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has shown a firm resolve to bring looters and other corrupt elements to book, stressing that the story in Nigeria is changing.

“Nigeria and the international community must recognize this modest progress that has been recorded in the last one year, and build on it,” it stated, adding that one way to do this is for the West to help stem graft and encourage a greater momentum in the anti-corruption war in Nigeria.