Temidayo Akinsuyi, Lagos

Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) on Monday said the recent raid on some Nigerians by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over a multi-million dollars internet scam will have a negative impact on Nigerians, especially those travelling overseas for one reason or the other.

Speaking in a chat with Daily Independent, Sagay who is currently in the US said the development will also negatively affect the image of Nigeria in the international community.

“It is very worrisome and I am very disturbed because not only will it affect our international image but also the prospect of interaction and travelling of Nigerians internationally, especially the manner in which you are regarded when you are in the midst of foreigners. So, it is a very disturbing issue”.

On what the Nigerian government can do, Sagay said while the Federal Government cannot do anything on the matter since it happened in the US and the FBI is already working on it, the government can assist the United States government in extraditing some of the suspects if they failed to willingly submit themselves to the authorities.

“There is nothing the Federal Government can do. The FBI is already taking action on the matter. The only thing the Nigerian government can do is if there are some of the accused people here in Nigeria, the American government will request extradition of such people”.

“So, in that case, the Nigerian government can act. If the accused persons are unwilling to travel to the US themselves, then the FG can commence extradition proceedings”.

“That is the best the Nigerian government can do because the offence was committed in the US and the US is the primary prosecutor of the matter,” he said.