Nigeria yet to get €175m Abacha loot from Liechtenstein - Attorney-General

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), yesterday, said Nigeria was yet to receive about €175 million stashed in a foreign account by late military dictator, General Sani Abacha.

Adoke, who spoke at the 2013 ministerial press briefing held in Abuja, yesterday, said Federal Government had intensified its efforts to trace and repatriate Nigeria's stolen assets abroad.

He said: 'In this connection, we have maintained effective liaison and communication with targeted jurisdictions to keep pace with asset recovery proceedings in those jurisdictions.

'In 2011, our close liaison and negotiation with the Island of Jersey led to the recovery and repatriation of £22.5 million confiscated by the Royal Court of Jersey from Raj Arjandes Bhojwani, an Indian national and associate of General Sani Abacha, on account of his money laundering transactions from Nigeria.

'We continued the liaison and negotiations with the Principality of Liechtenstein, which recently confiscated EUR 175 million from the Abacha family and associated companies in Liechtenstein following a confiscation order by the Supreme Court of Liechtenstein.

'However, the companies involved have lodged an appeal against the decision before the European Court of Justice in Strasburg.

'As soon as the appeal is concluded, firm arrangements consistent with the asset recovery provisions of the United Nations Convention against corruption, would be made to repatriate the forfeited sums to Nigeria.'