Abacha loot: ‘Switzerland returned over $1.040b since 1999’ - Uju Ayalogu's Blog for News, Reviews, Articles and More

Breaking News

Post Top Ad

Thursday 24 January 2019

Abacha loot: ‘Switzerland returned over $1.040b since 1999’

Abacha loot: ‘Switzerland returned over $1.040b since 1999’

The Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission  (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu on Thursday said the Swiss Government has returned about $1.040billion looted by the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha and his family members to Nigeria since 1999.

He also said there is need for an effective international collaboration by law enforcement agencies to combat corruption in the country.

Magu made the disclosures in a presentation at the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities, IAACA, in Vienna, Austria.

He said the cost of corruption was enormous and needed a broader approach to be tackled.

The excerpts of Magu’s submission were made available to newsmen by the Acting Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Tony Orilade.

READ ALSO :   UK, U.S. Announce Visa Restrictions On Perpetrators Of Election-Related Violence

Magu said: “Successes recorded in recovery of stolen assets have been achieved through Memoranda of Understanding, MoU signed between Nigeria and several countries including Switzerland, the United Kingdom, UK, the United Arab Emirates, UAE, and the United States, US, in line with Article 57 paragraph 5 of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, UNCAC.

“The UK government returned stolen funds to Nigeria in the cases of Dariye and Alamieyeseigha, with over 5 million pounds recovered from the former Bayelsa State governor in 2012.

Read Also: Use Abacha Loot to fund Ajaokuta, Reps tell FG
“In the case of Joshua Dariye, a former Governor of Plateau State in Nigeria, the British government also returned £48,000 to Nigeria in fulfillment of the UK’s commitments “under Chapter V of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.

“In 1999, the Swiss authorities pursuant to a request for mutual legal assistance, returned about $723m to Nigeria.”

“A tripartite MoU between the Swiss government, the World Bank and Nigerian government, also led to the return of additional $320 million Abacha loot.

“Other classes of recoveries made by the EFCC included whistle blowers cash recoveries, subsidy payment cash recoveries, third party cash recovery for NNPC, FIRS, NPA, AMCON and Banks.

“In 2017, EFCC made a total recovery of N473, 065,195,977.50, $142,504,121.12, and most of the recoveries, were non-conviction based asset recovery.”

He listed some of them to include Real Estates belonging to Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former Petroleum Minister and her associates; $43,449,947, £27,800 and N23,218,000 recovered in an apartment at Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos in 2017; $9,772,800 and another sum of £74,000 cash in Kaduna, belonging to Andrew Yakubu, a former Group General Manager of NNPC in 2017.”

Magu called for more international collaboration and synergy on repatriation of stolen wealth.

“Corruption is acknowledged to have been an impediment to sustainable development in Africa and the cost is so enormous that there is an urgent need for international collaboration for success to be achieved,” he said.

According to him, though the international community has created legal and institutional framework for the prevention and recovery of proceeds of corruption, recovery of stolen assets stashed away in foreign lands still remained a major issue to be tackled.”

READ ALSO :   I will bring prosperity back to Nigeria -Atiku

Are you an artiste? Do you want your music to go viral and reach a large number of audience? Promote your music and Submit your story on Ujuayalogusblog.com by clicking here. For Advert Inquiries Tel/+44(0)7590363984

For More:   Subscribe to Ujuayalogusblog.com

Subscribe to Our Posts via Email


Share This

No comments:

Post a Comment

Listen to This Beautiful New Talent - Winter Wolf - Singing "Midnight"


Post Bottom Ad

Pages