Authorities in the Channel Island of Jersey have agreed to repatriate more than $9.5 million (£7 million) in looted funds linked to the regime of late military ruler Sani Abacha to the Nigerian government.
According to the BBC, the money—traced to a Jersey bank account—was ruled to be proceeds of corruption and will be returned under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in December between Jersey’s Attorney General, Mark Temple KC, and Nigerian authorities.
The latest recovery follows two earlier asset repatriation agreements between Jersey and Nigeria, which led to the return of over $300 million (£230 million) in funds looted during the Abacha era.
In January 2024, Jersey’s Royal Court ruled that the funds were more likely than not derived from a corrupt scheme in which third-party contractors diverted Nigerian government money for the benefit of senior officials and their associates.
Confirming the development, Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said the recovered assets would be deployed strictly in line with the terms of the MoU.
“The successful recovery and repatriation of the forfeited assets underscores the effectiveness of Nigeria’s collaboration with international partners in ensuring that there is no safe haven for illicitly acquired wealth,” Fagbemi said.
He added that the funds would be used for infrastructure, specifically to support the final stages of a major highway linking Abuja to Nigeria’s second-largest city.
Jersey’s Attorney General, Mark Temple KC, said the recovery demonstrated the strength of the island’s legal framework in tackling corruption.
“It reflects the effectiveness of our civil forfeiture laws as a powerful tool in the fight against corruption,” he said.
