BREAKING: FG And US Agrees To Refund Sani Abacha Loot Worth $23.4 million
In order to repatriate a total of $23, 439, 724 that was allegedly stolen by the late former military head of state, General Sani Abacha, the Federal Government and the Government of the United States of America, USA, inked a new agreement on Tuesday.
While the US government was represented by its ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, the FG was represented by Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, at the ceremonial signing of the asset return agreement held at the Federal Ministry of Justice Headquarters in Abuja.
The AGF, Malami, SAN, said decision to return the stolen loot which he tagged as Abacha-5, was a product of series of negotiations and meetings between Nigeria, the US Department of Justice, and the UK National Crime Agency, NCA.
“It is worthy to note that in line with the terms of this Agreement, Mr. President had already approved the funds to be utilized for the ongoing Presidential Development Infrastructural Funds, PIDF, projects namely; Abuja-Kano Road, Lagos-Ibadan Express Way and the Second Niger Bridge under the supervision of Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA
“The President’s mandate to my office is to ensure that all international recoveries are transparently invested and monitored by civil society organizations to compete these three projects within the agreed timeline”, Malami stated.
More details shortly.
