FG recovers N5.5bn Abacha loot

THE Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello  Adoke SAN on Thursday disclosed that the Federal Government has recovered over N5.5 billion  Abacha loot and that negotiation is almost completed to recover another N36.7 billion from two of his associates.
Speaking during the 2013 ministerial platform held in Abuja, Adoke said that the Ministry of Justice had maintained an effective liaison and communication with targeted jurisdictions to keep pace with asset recovery proceedings in those jurisdictions.
He added that the close liaison and negotiation with the Island of Jersey led to the recovery and repatriation of the sum of UK £22.5 million confiscated by the Royal Court of Jersey from Raj Arjandes Bhojwani, an Indian national and associate of General Sani Abacha, on account of his money laundering transactions from Nigeria.
He further stated that there is continued liaison and negotiation with the Principality of Liechtenstein which recently confisticated the sum of EUR 175 million from the Abacha family and associated companies in Liechtenstein following a confiscation order by the Supreme Court of Liechtenstein.
He, however, added that the companies involved have lodged an appeal against the decision before the European Court of Justice in Strasburg stating that as soon as the appeal is concluded, firm arrangements consistent with the asset recovery provisions of the United Nations convention against corruption would be made to repatriate the forfeited sums to Nigeria.
Adoke further stated that the ministry in the discharge of its mandate as the focal ministry under the United Nations Convention against Corruption, is in the process of finalising a National Anti Corruption Strategy (NACS), to fight corruption in the country.
On the campaign against death sentence, the minister reminded criminal-minded Nigerians that capital punishment was still in force in the country and that the global campaign against death penalty by the Amnesty International and other bodies have not metamorphosed into its abolition in the world.
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