US Begins Proceedings On Abacha’s Loot

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Thursday, March 27th, 2014

The US has begun forfeiture proceedings on the proceeds of corruption owned by former Nigerian Military Head of State, late General Sanni Abacha.

This is according to a statement by the country’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke, on Wednesday that his office had received requests for Mutual Legal Assistance for the Central Authority of the United States in relation to the forfeiture.

Bello expressed the Nigeria government’s readiness to cooperate with the United States in line with obligations assumed under the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and applauded the efforts of the United States to recover the ​proceeds of corruption for the benefit of the people of ​Nigeria.

In the statement, “The proceedings will make it possible for the defendants to forfeit over $550million and £95,910 in 10 accounts and six investment portfolios linked to Abacha in France, the Britain, British Virgin Islands and the United States.

“The overall objective of these efforts is to ensure that ​Nigeria as the Victim State is able to have the forfeited ​assets (money) repatriated to Nigeria to fund ​development projects for the benefit of the people in ​accordance with the dictates of Chapter IV of the United ​Nations Convention against corruption (UNCAC).”

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice however assured the US government that Nigeria, as State Party to UNCAC, would do all that was required to realise the objective.

 

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