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Close to US$53 million (about N$1.01 billion) in alleged illicit funds recovered from Nigeria’s former oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, among others, will be used to fund public services, the country’s justice ministry says.
The money is being sent back to Nigeria from the United States (US), whose authorities allege that Alison-Madueke enriched herself, and others, while leading Nigeria’s state oil firm by awarding contracts in exchange for bribes.
The US alleged that the money was then used to buy a 65-metre superyacht called the ‘Galactica Star’, along with multiple luxury properties in California and New York.
Alison-Madueke (64) has always denied all allegations of wrongdoing. Her alleged ill-gotten gains are also under scrutiny in the United Kingdom, where two years ago she was charged with bribery offences including gifts of Louis Vuitton luxury goods, payment of private school fees, and at least US$127 000 (about N$2.4 million) in cash.
A key figure in the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan, she also served as the first female president of the oil exporters group Opec.
Her time as Nigeria’s minister of petroleum resources began in 2010 and ended in 2015.
She previously served as transport minister, and the minister for solid minerals and steel development.
The US Department of Justice announced in 2023 the final resolution of two civil cases on the forfeiture of assets that were reportedly laundered in and through the US by Alison-Madueke and her associates.
On Friday, the US and Nigeria confirmed that the sum of US$52.88 million would be repatriated to the West African nation.
SELF-ENRICHMENT … Diezani Alison-Madueke has been dogged by cor- ruption allegations since leaving office, which she denies.
This will be the first repatriation to Nigeria of assets outside the West African country linked to Alison-Madueke, the Reuters news agency reports.
Speaking at the formal signing ceremony in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, attorney general and minister of justice Lateef Fagbemi said the return of the funds marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to combat corruption.
Fagbemi said US$50m of the money will go through the World Bank to support rural electrification projects, and the remaining US$2.88 million will be directed to the International Institute of Justice to strengthen the justice system and promote anti-corruption efforts.
Meanwhile, the US ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has emphasised the need for accountability as well as the careful monitoring of the returned funds.
“The ministry of justice must guarantee that these funds are used transparently and effectively to improve the lives of Nigerians,” he said.
In November 2022, the US government repatriated to Nigeria US$20.6 million (about N$393 million) in assets allegedly stolen by former Nigerian military leader general Sani Abacha.
Five years ago, Washington transferred US$311.8 million (about N$5.9 billion) to the Nigerian government as part of a previous agreement to repatriate assets that traced back to the Abacha regime. – BBC
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