The United States of America repatriates another $20.6 million in Abacha loot.

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has returned more than $20.6 million in assets linked to the late General Sani Abacha and his accomplices.

According to a statement issued by the Department of Justice on Thursday, November 17, 2022, the transfer of monies

“is in accordance with an August 23 agreement between the governments to repatriate assets the United States forfeited that were traceable to kleptocracy of the former Nigerian dictator.”

“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.

According to a statement on the DoJ website, the repatriation brings the total sum forfeited and returned by the US in this instance to over $332.4 million.

The money were transferred in response to a 2014 District of Columbia judgment ordering the confiscation of about $500 million in assets tied to the former dictator.

The seized assets are corrupt monies laundered during and after Abacha’s military government, which took power in a military coup on November 17, 1993, and lasted until his death on June 8, 1998.

According to the accusation filed in the case, Abacha, his son Mohammed, his collaborator, Abubakar Bagudu, now the governor of Kebbi State, and others embezzled, stole, and extorted billions of dollars.

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 authorised 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 appreciated the extensive assistance provided by the governments of the United Kingdom, Nigeria, Jersey, and France in this investigation.

“It added that the case was brought under the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative by a team of dedicated prosecutors in the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section working in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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