In Landmark Agreement, US to Return $308m Abacha Assets for Infrastructure

•Praises Buhari for fight against corruption

Obinna Chima

The Government of Jersey, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Government of the United States of America have entered into an Asset Recovery Agreement to repatriate over $308 million of forfeited assets to Nigeria.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), described the agreement that would see the return of looted funds to the country as a victory for Nigeria as well as other African countries.
In a joint statement issued yesterday by the three countries, the funds will be deployed in the construction of Lagos – Ibadan expressway, Abuja – Kano expressway and the Second Niger Bridge.

According to the statement, the funds were laundered through the US banking system and then held in bank accounts in Jersey in the name of Doraville Properties Corporation, a BVI company, and in the name of the son of the former Head of State of Nigeria, the late General Sani Abacha.

It explained that in 2014, a US Federal Court in Washington DC had forfeited the money as property involved in the illicit laundering of the proceeds of corruption arising in Nigeria, during the period from 1993 to 1998, when the late Abacha was Head of State.

The case was a result of extensive co-operation between the Jersey authorities, the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section of the United States Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with crucial assistance from other governments around the world.

The statement further revealed that at the time, the case was filed as part of the US Department of Justice’s Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative in 2013, and then was the largest US Kleptocracy forfeiture action ever commenced.
“In 2014 the Attorney General of Jersey applied for, and was granted, a Property Restraint Order over the Jersey bank account balance of Doraville.

“This was challenged in the Royal Court of Jersey and Court of Appeal, and an application for permission to appeal to the Privy Council by Doraville was refused. France and the United Kingdom restrained additional funds at U.S. request.

“General Abacha and his associates stole and laundered many hundreds of millions of dollars of public money during his military regime, doing vast harm to the futures of his own people. The monies were laundered by his family, including his sons Ibrahim and Mohammed, and a number of close associates.

“The laundering operation extended to the United States and European jurisdictions such as the UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Lichtenstein and Luxembourg,” it stated.
In addition, the statement revealed that in 2018, governments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, United States of America and the Bailiwick of Jersey commenced the negotiation of the procedures for the repatriation, transfer, disposition and management of the assets.

It, however, pointed out that the tripartite agreement signed this week represents a major watershed in international cooperation in asset recovery and repatriation, and would provide benefit to Nigerians.
It listed the projects on which the funds would be expended on by the federal government to include the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, stressing that this would be, independently audited.

“The Federal Republic of Nigeria will establish a Monitoring Team to oversee the implementation of the projects and to report regularly on progress. The Nigerian government, in consultation with the other parties, will also engage civil society organisations, who have expertise in substantial infrastructure projects, civil engineering, anti-corruption compliance, anti-human trafficking compliance, and procurement to provide additional monitoring and oversight,” it added.

Commenting on the landmark agreement, the Solicitor General and Attorney General designate of Jersey, Mark Temple QC, who signed on behalf of Jersey, said: “This Agreement represents the culmination of two decades of intensive work by Law Officers in Jersey, the United States and Nigeria. The return of the assets to Nigeria had been delayed by a number of hard-fought challenges by third parties which were defeated in the Courts in Jersey and the United States.

“The agreement establishes a framework based on fruitful co-operation, trust and respect so that the forfeited funds can be repatriated to benefit the people of Nigeria, from whom they had been taken. The use of the funds will be subject to monitoring and reporting obligations.
“This is a very significant achievement, and, once again, demonstrates Jersey’s commitment to tackling international financial crime and money laundering.”

Also, Jersey’s Minister for External Relations, Senator Ian Gorst, said: “Since becoming aware that the alleged proceeds of Abacha corruption and money laundering had passed through Jersey financial institutions, the Jersey authorities have done everything within their power to investigate what happened and to return the money to its rightful owners, the people of Nigeria.

“I would like to offer my sincere thanks and appreciation to the dedicated team within the Law Officers’ Department, and their colleagues in United States and Nigeria.
“Their excellent level of cooperation in the fight against corruption, at domestic and international levels, should be an example for other jurisdictions to follow.

“As a leading international finance centre with an effective and robust regulatory regime, Jersey has a responsibility to firmly address any instances of alleged money laundering and corruption.
“Our commitment to seeing these funds repatriated has led to a positive outcome for the people of Nigeria, has established lasting partnerships and given us a pioneering role in asset-recovery that is based on the principles of national interest, trust and mutual respect.”

In the same vein, the Deputy Assistant Attorney Brian Benczkowski, who announced the agreement on behalf of the United States stated:
“The Department is pleased to enter into this agreement with The Bailiwick of Jersey and the Federal Republic of Nigeria to return this enormous amount of stolen funds for the benefit of the people harmed by the corruption in Nigeria.

“Through the recovery of these funds — and this mutual agreement — the people of Nigeria can see the money they lost to corruption in flagrant disregard of the rule of law is returned through a lawful process, and in a manner that ensures transparent and accountable use of the funds. This is a major achievement.

“It also stands as a clear statement of our commitment to safeguard the United States from those who seek to launder the proceeds of corruption through the abuse of our financial system.”

Repatriation Victory for Nigeria, Africa, Says Malami

Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, who signed on behalf of the Nigerian government noted that the agreement had, “culminated in a major victory, for Nigeria and other African countries as it recognises that crime does not pay and that it is important for the international community to seek for ways to support sustainable development through the recovery and repatriation of stolen assets.

According to him, “Without the commitment of the three parties to the Agreement (Nigeria, Jersey and the United States) and that of the legal experts and Attorneys representing Nigeria, it would have been impossible to achieve the success recorded today.”
Malami added: “As you are aware, the government of Nigeria has committed that the assets will support and assist in expediting the construction of the three major infrastructure projects across Nigeria – namely Lagos – Ibadan expressway, Abuja – Kano expressway and the second Niger bridge.

“These projects currently being executed under the supervision of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority as a public private partnership (PPP) will boost economic growth and help alleviate poverty by connecting people and supply chains from the East to the West and to the Northern part of Nigeria, a vast area covering several kilometers with millions of the country’s population set to benefit from the road infrastructures.“

He stressed the need for greater cooperation and mutual respect amongst countries in the implementation of expeditious cooperation measures already set out in the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and in the implementation of the GFAR principles on the repatriation of stolen assets.

He called on the civil society organisations and the Nigerian public to be involved in the monitoring of the implementation of the key infrastructure projects that would greatly enhance road transportation in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement by the US Department of State, the United States government said the agreement was a reflection of the weight its government places on the fight against corruption.

It welcomed, “President Muhammadu Buhari’s personal commitment to that fight,” even as it assured that it would continue to support civil society and other efforts in the country to combat corruption at all levels.
“The fight against corruption is an investment in the future of Nigeria,” the US government added.