Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North, has called on President Bola Tinubu to grant a two-year amnesty to former public officials accused of looting public funds, provided they return the money to the country.

Kalu said the recovery of such funds could inject billions of naira into the economy and support economic growth.

The former Abia State governor made the proposal while featuring on News Central TV’s *60 Minutes With Mr Kay.

He urged the Federal Government to establish a window through which individuals who allegedly diverted public funds while in office could voluntarily return the money without facing prosecution.

Kalu said huge amounts of money were allegedly being kept in private residences, particularly in Abuja, rather than being deposited in banks and made available for productive economic activities.

“President Tinubu should give people pardon, because between the houses in Abuja, if you search all the houses, you might have over N50 billion or N60 billion lying down there,” he said.

According to the senator, keeping large sums of money outside the banking system deprives the economy of funds that could be used for investment and development.

“People who keep money in their houses, and it’s not right; it’s not the right thing to do. It’s not in the banking system. It’s not in the banking system that could have helped this economy to grow,” Kalu said.

He proposed that the amnesty should cover funds allegedly taken from public coffers as far back as 1960, with those willing to return the money assured of immunity from prosecution.

“So I would like President Tinubu to give a window of two years and say, no matter from 1960, no matter where you keep the money, return it to Nigeria, nobody will touch you. You are pardoned,” he said.

Kalu added that the initiative would encourage individuals holding allegedly stolen public funds to repatriate the money and make it available for the benefit of the Nigerian economy.

“So let people repatriate this money and use it for the benefit of this economy,” he added.