Ireland has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Federal Government to return €5.5 million looted by Sani Abacha, the late head of state, to Nigeria.
Following an application by the Nigerian authorities last year, the High Court made an order providing for the return of these assets to Nigeria.
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Ireland’s minister of justice and equality, Helen McEntee in her statement confirmed that the decision followed the court order
The return of the asset found in a Dublin based bank account will be the first time the European nation has taken such action.
McEntee said;
I am very pleased to sign this Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and Nigeria. This represents the culmination of a long process which began with an internationally led investigation.
The Criminal Assets Bureau took part in this international operation which led to the freezing of over $1 billion in funds worldwide, of which approximately €5.5 million was identified in a Dublin based bank account.
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She added;
The return of these assets will be the first time that Ireland has taken such action and will be a concrete demonstration of Ireland’s commitment to international cooperation in the fight against corruption and to assisting countries which have been adversely affected by corruption in the past, and is in line with our international obligations as a signatory to the UN Convention Against Corruption. It demonstrates the intent of both States to uphold our shared values and our international obligations to eliminate corruption.
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Transparency International has estimated that Abacha might have looted as much as $5 billion during his regime from 1993 to 1998.
About $3.6 billion has so far been recovered out of that money.
