The Federal Government on Tuesday gave insight into how its recent anti-graft preventive measures adopted to check corruption and manage recovered stolen assets had helped in repatriating funds and assets stolen and stashed away in overseas’ banks and other custodial agencies by some fraudulent Nigerians .
The government listed some of the repatriated loots as including, $322.52 million from Switzerland, $311.7 million from United States, €5.4 million from Northern Island, as well as €4,214,017.66 and $200 million from the United Kingdom.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, disclosed this on Monday during the 2021 annual public lecture organised by the Centre for Media and Peace Initiative, in New York, United States.
Malami was quoted in a statement issued by his Special Assistant (Media and Public Relations), Dr. Umar Gwandu, as saying that being an Africa Union champion in the fight against corruption, President Muhammadu Buhari has intensified Nigeria’s anti-graft fight in all its ramifications through the legislative framework.
He pointed out that the successes recorded by the Nigerian government in international asset recovery in recent times could serve as a template for other African countries in their fight against corruption at all levels of governance in their countries.
The minister clarified: “Various steps have been taken in terms of legislatives frameworks, establishment of institutions and policy measures targeted at combating corruption, regional corporation and ensuring good governance for the benefit of citizens.
“In 2017, the signing of a trilateral agreement with Switzerland and World Bank enabled the recovery of $322.515m.
“In 2020, a total sum of $311.7m was returned to Nigeria after signing another trilateral agreement with the U.S.A and Bailiwick of Jersey. Also in the year 2020, 5.4 million Euros was recovered in March emanating from an agreement signed with Northern Island.
“The Federal Government was able to recover from UK the sum of €4,214,017.66 connected to the family of James Ibori. Additional recoveries to the tune of $200m are being anticipated subject to the settlement of litigations of which the Ministry of Justice is attending to presently”, he added.
Malami attributed the achievements of the government in the fight against corruption to the political will, funding, legislations, institutional support, and relevant Executive Orders of the President
While stressing that Nigeria has also taken anti-corruption measures in tackling cybercrime, money laundering, oil bunkering and false assets declaration, among others, the minister explained that President Buhari’s approach to fight against corruption had been anchored on three cardinal pillars, namely the campaign promises; economic and security development.
