The United States Government is opposing plans by her Nigerian counterpart to hand about $100 million the American authorities say was stolen by deceased former Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha to Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, who is a member of the ruling All progressives Congress (APC).
The disagreement may hamper future cooperation between the two nations to recover state money moved offshore by Abacha, who Transparency International estimates may have looted as much as $5 billion during his 1993-98 rule.
A commitment by Nigeria to transfer the funds to Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State appears to undermine Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s pledge to quell rampant graft in Africa’s top oil producer.
The US Department of Justice says Governor Bagudu was involved in corruption with the late Sani Abacha.
The DoJ also contends that the Nigerian government is hindering US efforts to recover allegedly laundered money it says it’s traced to Bagudu.
President Buhari’s administration says a 17-year-old agreement entitles Governor Bagudu to the funds and prevents Nigeria from assisting the U.S., according to recent filings from the District Court for the District of Columbia in Washington.
“This case illustrates how complex and contentious repatriating stolen assets to Nigeria can be,” said Matthew Page, an associate fellow at London-based Chatham House and former Nigeria expert for US intelligence agencies.
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“Instead of welcoming US efforts, Nigeria’s lawyers appear to be supporting the interests of one of the country’s most powerful families.”
Neither Governor Bagudu nor a spokesman for Attorney-General of the Fededration and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, responded to requests for comment.
A spokesman for President Buhari said the settlement and the litigation were matters for Malami. A spokesman for the DoJ declined to comment.
Successive Nigerian governments have sought to recoup the money looted by Abacha, who died in office, and have so far repatriated more than $2 billion with the cooperation of other countries, according to U.S. court filings.
In the case involving Bagudu, the U.S. in 2013 initiated a forfeiture action against a host of assets, including four investment portfolios held in London in trust for him and his family, according to the district court filings. (Yahoo News)
