The United Kingdom
government has warned against President Buhari government’s plan to give more
than $100million to Kebbi Governor, Atiku Bagudu.
The money is part of
funds stolen by the late Head of State, Sani Abacha.
The U.S. and
Nigeria, in early February, agreed on the repatriation of over $308million to
Africa’s most populous nation.
A few days later,
the world power accused the Nigerian government of a secret plot to give Atiku
Bagudu a per cent of the money.
On Monday, Bloomberg
reported that the U.K National Crime Agency has insisted that the Abacha loot
belongs to the people and “is opposing the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s
application”.
The motion was filed
by Atiku Bagudu’s brother, Ibrahim, “to the District Court for the District of
Columbia in the U.S. capital on March 30”.
The U.S. had in a
statement on February 3, said the Kebbi Governor was part of Abacha network
that “embezzled, misappropriated and extorted billions from the government of
Nigeria.”
The Department of
Justice (DoJ) further said the Buhari administration is preventing ongoing
forfeiture efforts against Atiku Bagudu.
The 2003 settlement
approved by a U.K. court allowed the governor to return $163 million to Nigeria
“without admitting to wrongdoing,” according to U.S. court filings.
In return, the
federal government dropped all outstanding civil and criminal claims against
him, District Judge John D. Bates noted in a December 23, 2019 memorandum
opinion.
“This case
illustrates how complex and contentious repatriating stolen assets to Nigeria
can be,” Matthew Page, an associate fellow at Chatham House.
“Nigeria’s lawyers
appear to be supporting the interests of one of the country’s most powerful
families”, the intelligence expert added.
Successive
governments have so far repatriated more than $2billion stashed abroad by
Abacha.
Transparency
International estimated that the late dictator stole around $5billion during
his five-year rule.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
same OK politicians wey rule Nigeria before
ReplyDeletesame OK politicians wey loot Nigeria before
buhari carry all of dem
say dem be innocent o
wan give dem d Moni backioo
enofinish enofinish enofinish
panranran