Federal government yesterday declared its support for the United States on the forfeiture proceedings instituted by the US Department of Justice against the money stashed away in foreign banks by the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha and his associates.
The corruption proceeds are lodged in Britain, France and Jersey.
The declaration was contained in a three-paragraph statement issued in Abuja by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN).
Barely one week after the late military junta was honoured by President Goodluck Jonathan as part of the nation’s centenary celebration “for his contribution to the nation,” the US Department of Justice froze more than $458 million in corruption proceeds stashed in bank accounts around the world by the former military ruler.
In a civil forfeiture complaint unsealed in the US District Court in Washington, the department wants to recover more than $550m in connection with the action.
“This is the largest civil forfeiture action to recover the proceeds of foreign official corruption ever brought by the department,” said Mythili Raman, acting assistant attorney general.
“General Abacha was one of the most notorious kleptocrats in memory, who embezzled billions from the people of Nigeria, while millions lived in poverty,” she said.
Expressing federal government’s support for the move, Adoke said : “The proceedings will make if possible for the defendants to forfeit over $550million and £95,910 in 10 accounts and six investment portfolios linked to the Abachas in France, the Britain, British Virgin Islands and the United States.
“We applaud the efforts of the United States to recover the proceeds of corruption for the benefit of the people of Nigeria.”
