Nigeria will in the next 72 days receive the sum of $318,460,329 looted and stashed away by former Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha from the United States of America.
The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami made the disclosure in an interview with Channels Television Politics on Wednesday.
According to the AGF who signed a tripartite agreement United States of America and the Island of Jersey to repatriate the funds on Tuesday, said the money which is in the custody of the Island of Jersey will be sent to the USA within 27 days, and then within 45 days, the money will be repatriated to Nigeria.
Malami said, “The money as it is, in the custody of Island of Jersey where it was deposited and then the United States came on board on account of the fact that it has an order of forfeiture restraining the money against the background that its financial means of exchange, the dollar, was used in the perpetration of the crime of looting the asset of Nigeria.
“So that brings about the parties of interest to be the Island of Jersey where the money was stashed, the USA which initiated the judicial process for the repatriation of the money and Nigeria which is indeed the victim; so the common agreement that was reached is that within 27 days, the money will leave the custody of Island of Jersey down to the USA and within 45 days the money will be repatriated to Nigeria.
“We are looking at around 72 days from Tuesday when the agreement was signed and executed by the party,” he added.
The AGF also revealed that the Federal Government is in further talks to repatriate other monies looted and stashed abroad.
According to him, the $318m recovered is not the last looted by Abacha and the Buhari-led government is also working to ensure that other funds are recovered immediately.
He continued, “As it is, there are additional monies not only relating to Abacha but indeed extending to other parties of interest, inclusive of monies to be recovered relating to James Ibori, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former governors in Nigeria, former petroleum minister, Diezani and indeed Kola Aluko.
“Negotiations commenced on these additional monies yesterday (Tuesday) and we look forward to signing an agreement in no distant future for the purpose of the repatriation of the additional sum.
The AGF added that “Part of the money we are looking forward to having repatriated in no distant future include some of the monies that are now domiciled in the UK, US, and France.
“In respect of Abacha, it is not the last, we are still expecting additional money,” he stated.
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