Attorney-General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), on Thursday, said Nigeria
was yet to receive about €175 million starched in a foreign account by
late military dictator, General Sani Abacha.
Adoke, who spoke at the 2013 ministerial press briefing held in Abuja, yesterday, to highlight the mid-term achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in regards to Ministry of Justice, said Federal Government had intensified its efforts to trace and repatriate Nigeria’s stolen assets abroad.
He said, “In this connection, we have maintained effective liaison and communication with targeted jurisdictions to keep pace with asset recovery proceedings in those jurisdictions.
“In 2011, our close liaison and negotiation with the Island of Jersey led to the recovery and repatriation of £22.5 million confiscated by the Royal Court of Jersey from Raj Arjandes Bhojwani, an Indian national and associate of General Sani Abacha, on account of his money laundering transactions from Nigeria.
“We continued the liaison and negotiations with the Principality of Liechtenstein, which recently confiscated EUR 175 million from the Abacha family and associated companies in Liechtenstein following a confiscation order by the Supreme Court of Liechtenstein.
“However, the companies involved have lodged an appeal against the decision before the European Court of Justice in Strasburg.
“As soon as the appeal is concluded, firm arrangements consistent with the asset recovery provisions of the United Nations Convention against corruption, would be made to repatriate the forfeited sums to Nigeria.”
Adoke further disclosed that the Ministry of Justice, in the year under review, received 60 petitions bordering on breach of rights of citizens, lack of action on criminal matters by the law enforcement agencies.
Adoke, who spoke at the 2013 ministerial press briefing held in Abuja, yesterday, to highlight the mid-term achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in regards to Ministry of Justice, said Federal Government had intensified its efforts to trace and repatriate Nigeria’s stolen assets abroad.
He said, “In this connection, we have maintained effective liaison and communication with targeted jurisdictions to keep pace with asset recovery proceedings in those jurisdictions.
“In 2011, our close liaison and negotiation with the Island of Jersey led to the recovery and repatriation of £22.5 million confiscated by the Royal Court of Jersey from Raj Arjandes Bhojwani, an Indian national and associate of General Sani Abacha, on account of his money laundering transactions from Nigeria.
“We continued the liaison and negotiations with the Principality of Liechtenstein, which recently confiscated EUR 175 million from the Abacha family and associated companies in Liechtenstein following a confiscation order by the Supreme Court of Liechtenstein.
“However, the companies involved have lodged an appeal against the decision before the European Court of Justice in Strasburg.
“As soon as the appeal is concluded, firm arrangements consistent with the asset recovery provisions of the United Nations Convention against corruption, would be made to repatriate the forfeited sums to Nigeria.”
Adoke further disclosed that the Ministry of Justice, in the year under review, received 60 petitions bordering on breach of rights of citizens, lack of action on criminal matters by the law enforcement agencies.
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