The late Gen. Sani Abacha and his accomplices’ assets, valued more than $20.6 million, have been returned to their native countries by the US Department of Justice (DoJ).
The transfer of monies “is in compliance with an August 23 agreement between the nations to repatriate assets the United States forfeited that were traceable to kleptocracy of the former Nigerian ruler,” the Department of Justice stated in a statement on Thursday, November 17, 2022.
“The forfeited assets represent corrupt monies laundered during and after the military regime of General Abacha, who became head of state in Nigeria through a military coup on Nov. 17, 1993,” the statement read.
The amount forfeited and refunded by the US in this case totals about $332.4 million, according to a statement posted on the DoJ website.
The District of Columbia’s 2014 ruling ordering the confiscation of property connected to the former dictator’s worth around $500 million is ultimately what led to the transfer of monies.
The forfeited property is corrupt money that was laundered during and after the military government of General Abacha, who took power on November 17, 1993, and remained in power until his death on June 8, 1998.
Abacha, his son Mohammed, his associate Abubakar Bagudu, and others were accused of embezzling, misappropriating, and extorting billions of dollars from the government coffers, according to the complaint submitted in the case.
The statement read, ‘’The United Kingdom’s cooperation in the investigation, restraint, and enforcement of the US judgment, along with the valuable contributions of Nigeria and other law enforcement partners around the world, including the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, as well as those of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, have been instrumental to the recovery of these funds.
‘’Under the agreement signed in August, the US agreed to transfer 100 per cent of the net forfeited assets to Nigeria to support three critical infrastructure projects in Nigeria that were previously authorized by Nigerian President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and the Nigerian legislature.
‘’The $20,637,622.27 marks a slight reduction from the $23m announced in August due primarily to exchange rate fluctuations between British pounds sterling and US dollars. The funds governed by this agreement will help finance the Second Niger Bridge, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and the Abuja-Kano road – investments that will benefit the citizens.
The department was grateful for the substantial support given in this enquiry by the governments of the United Kingdom, Nigeria, Jersey, and France.
It further stated that a group of committed prosecutors from the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, working in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, brought the case under the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative.
