Nigeria and the United States have signed a pact spelling out the modalities on the return of over $300m looted by Nigeria’s former Head of State, the late Gen. Sani Abacha, and a former Governor of Bayelsa State, the late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
The cheering news is contained a speech delivered on Thursday by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, at Chatham House, London in the United Kingdom. According to the AGF, the US has taken custody of the money, including parts of it stashed in the United Kingdom, France and Jersey.
In the speech titled, ‘Nigeria’s Anti-Corruption Effort: Working with the Media, Civil Society and International Partners’. The AGF stated that the US government took custody of the over $300m following forfeiture orders made by American courts.
He said of the $300m, the sums of $1.6m and £21.7m were in the UK, $145m was stashed in France, and $299m in Jersey.
Earlier in the week, the Swiss government announced an agreement to release $321m looted by Abacha and members of his family to the Nigerian government.
