Abacha Loot: FG Assures On Completion Of Projects

The Federal Government of Nigeria and partners involved in the use of funds recovered from former Head of State, Sani Abacha have pledged to complete the projects as stipulated in the 2020 Tripartite Agreement.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), gave the commitment at the opening of the implementation of the projects at the Public Engagement on the Monitoring of the Use of Recovered Assets and Launch of Civil Society Organisation’s website recently.

Malami, who was represented by the Director of Public Prosecution, Abubakar Baba Dokko, said the Buhari administration had since 2016 laid out strategy for the recovery of stolen assets from Nigeria.

The federal government has in the 2020 Asset Return Agreement with the USA and the Island of Bailwick of Jersey committed to the use of the recovered assets such as $322m and $311m for the construction of three major infrastructure projects across Nigeria, namely: The Lagos – Ibadan Expressway, Abuja – Kano Road, and the Second Niger Bridge.

Similarly, the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor General of the Federation, Mrs Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the AGF of Justice Reform, Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, expressed appreciation to the international partners and the governments of Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America, Bailiwick of Jersey and Ireland.

In his presentation, he Managing Director of the National Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Uche Orji said the NSIA is responsible for the management and execution of the projects, adding that the projects being done by the recovered loots are at advanced stages.

The highlight of the programme was the launch of the website of the CLEEN Foundation, the monitoring Civil Society Organization (CSO), in line with the Global Forum of Asset Recovery (GFAR).