Nigeria : US To Return Abacha’s Looted Funds

The Federal government of Nigeria and that of the United States of America (USA) on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 signed an agreement for the repatriation of the sum of over $23 million, being assets looted by late Head of State, General Sani Abacha. The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami signed the agreement on behalf of the Federal Government, while the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Leonard signed for the government of the US. 
Speaking shortly before signing the agreement, the AGF said since 2016, his ministry, the United Kingdom National Crime Agency (UK NCA), the US Department of Justice (USDOJ) have been working closely with the legal representatives of the Federal Government to finalise litigations related to the Abacha linked assets. Following agreement between parties, Malami said the UK High Court granted the NCA a registration and recovery order on July 21, 2021, which was sealed by the court on August 4, 2021. He added that, “The forfeited Mecosta/Sani assets were subsequently transferred to the NCA, which on February 7, 2022, held the sum of $23,439,724, pending the execution of the asset return agreement between the FRN and the USA.” 
The US ambassador to Nigeria Mary Leonard who signed for her country revealed th...