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Tag: Abacha loot

  • Scandals from the grave

    Scandals from the grave

    Sir: The readily reminds increasingly poor Nigerians of their past, but especially of the relentless avarice of those who have led them at different times.

    After more than two decades, France has returned about $150 million stolen by late dictator Sani Abacha to Nigeria. Catherine Colonna, France Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, disclosed this in Abuja when she visited President Bola Tinubu.

    Is it not astounding that some of the loot was in France too? Previous ones were discovered in Switzerland, the UK, Jersey, Liechtenstein, and a handful of other countries. Where else did the late dictator stash away money he stole from Nigeria?

    It is difficult to pinpoint exactly at what point Nigeria started to drift south. But there is something resembling a consensus that a country that showed prodigious promise at independence in 1960 started to retrogress when the military began to intervene in government. The coup of 1966 was particularly jarring because it opened the floodgates of military intervention in Nigeria, casting the country backwards, and driving its institutions to distraction.

    Between 1966 and 1999, when Nigeria returned to democracy, the military had spent about 28 years in office. The recent military coups in neighbouring countries of Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Gabon sought to present the military as saviours of their country. While history holds that military interventions have proven salubrious for some countries, this has been exceptionally rare.

    Nigeria, the fallen giant of Africa, has had nothing good to recount or recall about the khaki-clad men who have held the reins of power in the country. Many of them have been little more than thieves and plunderers whose avaricious interests lay in the Nigerian treasury and the weakening of Nigerian institutions.

    But, somehow, in a country that saw iron-fisted despots like Ibrahim Babangida and Muhammadu Buhari enjoy unconstitutional incursions into government, Abacha takes the cake. The outrageous amounts of money that he stole and stashed away in Nigerian banks continue to be recovered and will continue to be recovered because the truth is that no one is really sure how much he put away and where he put them away. 

    Read Also: The unending saga of Abacha loot recoveries

    That the brutal dictator whose regime was steeped in blood continues to enjoy cult followership across sections of Nigerians speaks to the deadened consciences many carry about.

    Some of those who helped Abacha steal and stash away money have gone on to occupy high-profile offices in the country since his providential demise in 1998.

    Corruption in Nigeria has a long and painful history. If Nigerians are ever to point to one source of their multifaceted problems, it will be at what has proven a hydra headed monster.

    One thing that makes stealing public funds in Nigeria so relentless is that it is so rewarding. Those who do it only ever get a slap on the wrist if they do. They use stolen public funds to buy elections, buy court judgments, evade law enforcement and have at their leash irredeemable criminals who will do their bidding in a country where the law packs a lot of puff but little punch.

    The Abacha loot saga has continued to shame generations of Nigerians. The earlier Nigeria recovers all of it and plugs all the holes that enable the wanton stealing of public funds, the earlier the country will begin to recover from years of theft and plunder.

    Until then, the fact that many Nigerians believe that the Abacha loot returned to the country is destined only for another round of stealing speaks to a country where corruption is a virtue.

    • Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com
  • The unending saga of Abacha loot recoveries

    The unending saga of Abacha loot recoveries

    Once again, the late dictator, General Sani Abacha, is making headlines 26 years after his demise. France’s decision to return $150 million stolen from Nigeria by the late ruler has reignited discussions on accountability and fiscal discipline within the country’s public administration, leaving many Nigerians stunned.

     Last week, President Bola Tinubu expressed his appreciation to France for the return of $150 million stolen from Nigeria by Abacha. In addition to the recovery of another tranche of Abacha loot, the President acknowledged the signing of a €100 million agreement between Nigeria and France to support the i-DICE programme — a Federal Government initiative to promote investment in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Creative Arts Industries. The agreement was signed by Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Technology, and the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, at an earlier event at Tafawa Balewa House, the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

     President Tinubu commended the strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and France, noting that this progress followed his visit to Paris after his inauguration.

     “Thank you for the good news on the return of Abacha loot. We appreciate your effective cooperation concerning the return of Nigeria’s money. It will be judiciously applied in attaining our development objectives,” President Tinubu told Catherine Colonna, the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, who delivered the news.

     The saga surrounding the recovery of the Abacha loot, a symbol of corruption and financial mismanagement during Nigeria’s dark era under Abacha’s misrule, has been a protracted battle spanning over two decades.

     The looted funds, hidden in offshore accounts, real estate and other assets, have been the focus of relentless international legal battles, diplomatic negotiations, and intricate financial investigations, reflecting the complexity of repatriating ill-gotten wealth back to its rightful place. The recovery of assets looted by Nigeria’s former military ruler has been a lengthy and complex process.

     The funds, also known as the Abacha loot, have been stashed away in various bank accounts and assets worldwide, causing significant international legal battles and diplomatic efforts to repatriate them back to Nigeria from where it was stolen in brazen circumstances.

    Abacha ruled Nigeria from 1993 until his death in 1998. During his brutal regime, billions of dollars were siphoned off from the country’s treasury and hidden in foreign accounts, real estate and other assets.

    Success recorded so far in the recovery efforts

    Nigeria, with the assistance of international bodies such as the World Bank, the United Nations and Interpol, as well as cooperation from countries where the funds were traced, including Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States embarked on legal battles to recover the looted funds.  

    Over the years, several tranches of the Abacha loot have been repatriated to Nigeria, although the process has been marred by bureaucratic hurdles, legal challenges and protracted negotiations.

     After Abacha died in 1998, his successor, General Abdulsalami Abubakar initiated a probe into the looting of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) between 1993 and 1998, revealing that the late dictator had stolen over $5 billion.

     A significant portion of the stolen funds was traced to more than 140 bank accounts in various Western countries and remote islands worldwide.

     Following the investigation, the Federal Government recovered $635 million, £75 million, DM 30 million, and N9 billion, along with several vehicles and properties in Abuja, Lagos, and Kano.

     Additionally, a 40 per cent stake in the West African Refinery in Sierra Leone was reclaimed. Further assets were also recovered from Abacha’s family and associates. Upon the restoration of civil rule in May 1999, the Olusegun Obasanjo administration continued efforts to recover the remaining Abacha loot.

    Last year, the United States Government returned $23 million to Nigeria, a portion of the funds looted by the late dictator and his associates.

    Read Also: Abacha loot and Tinubu’s agenda

     From the United States and various other countries, the total recoveries from the dictator, his family and cronies have reached $3.65 billion. According to the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Leonard, her country has already repatriated over $334.7 million of the Abacha loot to Nigeria. She clarified that the US Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation seized the stolen funds due to violations of US laws, as Abacha and his associates laundered the money from the United States to the United Kingdom.

    An infographic by the BBC, compiled from data from the Federal Government, the World Bank, and Transparency International, revealed that over the past 24 years, a total of over $3.65 billion in looted funds have been recovered from Abacha.

     Notable amounts include $750 million in 1998 from the late Head of State’s family, $64 million from Switzerland in 2000, $1.2 billion in 2002, $160 million and $88 million from Jersey and Switzerland in 2003, and $461.3 million from Switzerland in 2005. Subsequent recoveries include $44.1 million from Switzerland in 2006, $227 million from Liechtenstein in 2014, $322 million from Switzerland in 2018, and $311.7 million from the US in 2020.

     The former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami revealed that former President Muhammadu Buhari approved the use of the $311 million tranche released jointly by the US, UK, and the Bailiwick of Jersey for ongoing Presidential Development Infrastructural Fund projects. These projects, supervised by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, include the Abuja-Kano Expressway, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and the Second Niger Bridge. Despite these allocations, many stakeholders express dissatisfaction with the management of the recovered funds, citing a lack of transparency and concerns about corruption.

     In recent years, there have been significant milestones in the recovery efforts. The Nigerian government has successfully repatriated millions of dollars, and the return of these funds has contributed to various development projects and programmes within the country. However, challenges persist, including the identification and verification of the total amount of looted funds, legal complications, and the need for continued international cooperation. In many profound ways, the recovery and repatriation of the Abacha loot have significant implications for Nigeria.

     Financially, the returned funds can be channelled into critical sectors such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and poverty alleviation programmes, thereby bolstering the country’s socio-economic development.

     Moreover, these efforts send a strong message to corrupt officials that stolen assets will not go unnoticed, fostering a sense of accountability within the country.

     To ensure a more transparent and efficient process, the Nigerian government must strengthen domestic institutions responsible for asset recovery. This includes enhancing collaboration between law enforcement agencies, judiciary, and financial intelligence units. Additionally, Nigeria should continue fostering international partnerships and cooperation, especially with countries where looted funds are traced. In conclusion, the recovery of the Abacha loot signifies a significant step in Nigeria’s fight against corruption and mismanagement of public funds. While challenges persist, continued efforts, both domestically and internationally, are vital to ensuring the full recovery of these stolen assets and their effective utilisation for the betterment of the Nigerian people.

    Lessons to embrace from Abacha loot recoveries

      The relentless pursuit and recovery of the Abacha loot have served as a poignant reminder of Nigeria’s struggle against corruption and its commitment to reclaiming misappropriated funds. Amidst these ongoing efforts, several crucial lessons emerge, highlighting the need for transformative change within the nation. Nigeria must fortify its domestic institutions responsible for financial oversight and accountability because robust internal mechanisms, coupled with transparency and vigilance, can deter corrupt practices and prevent future embezzlement.

     Consistent political will is also vital for tackling corruption. All administrations need to demonstrate unwavering commitment to pursuing corrupt individuals, regardless of their political affiliations. A consistent approach fosters public trust and bolsters the nation’s anti-corruption initiatives. Collaboration with international partners, financial institutions, and legal entities is equally imperative. Strengthening diplomatic ties ensures mutual support in tracing and repatriating stolen assets. Nigeria should actively engage with global allies to expedite the recovery process.

     Accountability in utilising repatriated funds is non-negotiable. Nigeria must establish transparent mechanisms to ensure that recovered assets are allocated judiciously to critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Public disclosure of fund allocation builds trust and demonstrates the government’s commitment to societal development. Streamlining legal procedures related to asset recovery is essential. Expedited justice and efficient legal frameworks are necessary to bring corrupt individuals to trial swiftly. Timely convictions act as a deterrent and demonstrate the judiciary’s resolve against corruption.

     Educating the public about corruption’s detrimental effects and involving citizens in anti-corruption campaigns are pivotal. Empowered citizens can demand accountability, advocate for ethical governance, and actively contribute to the nation’s fight against corruption. Preventive measures are as crucial as recovery efforts. Implementing stringent financial regulations, conducting regular audits, and enforcing ethical standards within public institutions can deter corruption at its roots. Nigeria must develop comprehensive, long-term policies addressing corruption prevention, detection, and prosecution. A holistic approach, backed by strategic planning, ensures sustainable progress in the battle against corruption.

     In essence, the endless saga of Abacha loot recoveries underscores the urgency for Nigeria to address systemic issues, foster international collaboration, and empower its citizens. By learning from these lessons, Nigeria can pave the way for a more transparent, accountable, and prosperous future, free from the clutches of corruption.

  • Abacha loot and Tinubu’s agenda

    Abacha loot and Tinubu’s agenda

    It is striking that the so-called Abacha loot is still changing hands, 25 years after the death of the infamous Gen. Sani Abacha who ruled the country dictatorially from 1993 to 1998.

    The Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Catherine Colonna, during a recent visit to Nigeria, said she had “informed President Tinubu that in response to the request submitted by the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Justice, and in agreement with the US Administration, France will return to Nigeria the assets stolen from the Nigerian people by General Sani Abacha and his family, that have been frozen in France since 2021.”

    She added: “We will start discussions with the Nigerian administration in order to allocate these 150 million US dollars to development projects benefiting the population, according to the priorities of the Nigerian government.”

    President Tinubu described it as “good news,” saying the money would be “judiciously applied in attaining our development objectives,” according to his spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement.  When the money is returned, it will be the first Abacha loot to be returned to the Tinubu administration.

    In August 2022, the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari signed an agreement with the American government for the repatriation of $23.4m to the country.  At the time, the then Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who tagged the money “Abacha 5,” said the agreement resulted from negotiations and meetings between Nigeria, the US Department of Justice and the UK National Crime Agency.

    Read Also: Tinubu welcomes repatriation of $150m Abacha loot by France

    He was also reported saying, based on the terms of the agreement, Buhari had approved the funds to be utilised for the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF)projects, including Abuja-Kano Road, Lagos-Ibadan Express Way and the Second Niger Bridge under the supervision of Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

    The return of the outrageously humongous Abacha loot to Nigeria has been marred by transparency and accountability issues. For instance, at a forum on asset recovery organised by the Swiss Embassy and the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, in Abuja, in June 2018, the then Switzerland Ambassador to Nigeria, Eric Mayoraz, said: “All funds hidden in Swiss banks by Abacha were fully repatriated and so we don’t have any of such funds in Switzerland again. $752m was returned in 2005 and we discovered more and more in other banks and that involved the $322.5m that was repatriated earlier this year.” In other words, over $1bn Abacha loot had been returned.

    The diplomat employed diplomatic language when he justified the concern of the Swiss government that the $322.5m should be well managed and spent to enrich the poor. Mayoraz said: “Unfortunately, some of the assets that were returned, there was not so much transparency in it. So, we have to introduce the World Bank to get involved in this so that this particular one can be used by the Nigerian government with the monitoring of the World Bank.”

    This arrangement mocked Nigeria. It suggested that Nigeria’s leaders couldn’t be trusted with the returned Nigerian loot. More tragically, the arrangement was a response to a bad record regarding the management of the initial $752m.

    The involvement of another monitor, the United Kingdom government, clearly compounded the insult.  At the forum, the then head of the Department for International Development in Nigeria, Debbie Palmer, said the UK government would spend £600,000 to monitor the use of recovered assets. Palmer cited reports that said Africa was losing $50bn to political corruption every year.

    From January to April 2020, about N23.7bn of the N125bn ($322.5m) recovered Abacha loot was disbursed to about 703, 506 vulnerable Nigerians under the Federal Government’s Conditional Cash Transfer scheme, according to the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ). The non-governmental group led the Monitoring Transparency and Accountability in the Management of Returned Assets (MANTRA) project.

    Under the Buhari administration, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) had observed that “The return of the Abacha loot is a chance for President Buhari to commit to the enforcement of the 2016 judgement by Justice Mohammed Idris, which ordered his government to publish, disclose the spending of recovered loot since 1999 by past and present governments till date, as well as details of projects on which the funds were spent.”

    There is no doubt that the unavailability of such a comprehensive record of how recovered looted funds were utilised, or not utilised, for development purposes over the years discredited the Buhari administration’s anti-corruption campaign. 

    Gen. Abacha’s military dictatorship was responsible for the deaths of many pro-democracy fighters. Many prominent and not-so-prominent Nigerians fled the country to escape his hit squad. During his time in power, he intimidated the existing political parties into endorsing him as the sole presidential candidate in a desperate self-succession effort.

    Notably, Abacha prevented the inauguration of Chief M.K.O. Abiola who won the country’s historic 1993 presidential election annulled by his predecessor, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. Abiola was detained for four years by the Abacha regime, and eventually died in detention in July 1998, a month after the dictator’s death.

    Abacha’s evil was compounded by his kleptomania. He is believed to have stolen money to the tune of over $3 billion from the treasury. The story of his mammoth loot stashed away in banks across the globe continues 25 years after his death. He was described by a US Justice Department official as “one of the most notorious kleptocrats in memory, who embezzled billions from the people of Nigeria while millions lived in poverty.” 

    In 2014, the US Department of Justice had highlighted Abacha’s looting methods, and was reported to have frozen $458m in corruption funds linked to him in secret bank accounts across the world. The action was described as “the largest kleptocracy forfeiture ever in the US.”

    The US Department of Justice had identified Abacha’s looting style which, interestingly, has not gone out of fashion in the country, even under democracy. Abacha’s “fraudulent schemes” included “the ‘security votes’ fraud, through which more than $2 billion was embezzled from the Central Bank of Nigeria.”  Sadly, the “security votes” fraud is still in vogue among those in power in the country today as an easy path to wealth acquired fraudulently.   

    Now that $150m Abacha loot is coming home, the Tinubu administration must use the money in ways that demonstrate the believability of its Renewed Hope Agenda.

  • Tinubu welcomes repatriation of $150mn Abacha loot by France

    Tinubu welcomes repatriation of $150mn Abacha loot by France

    • Meets Macron’s Presidential Envoy at Villa

    President Bola Tinubu, yesterday  in Abuja, expressed his appreciation to France for the return of $150 million stolen from Nigeria by former Head of State, General Sani Abacha.

    President Tinubu’s appreciation to the French government was contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

    In addition to the recovery of another tranche of Abacha loot, the President acknowledged the signing of a €100 million agreement between Nigeria and France to support the i-DICE programme — a federal government initiative to promote investment in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Creative Arts Industries.

    The agreement was signed by Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, at an earlier event at Tafawa Balewa House, the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    President Tinubu commended the strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and France, noting that this progress followed his visit to Paris after his inauguration.

    “Thank you for the good news on the return of Abacha loot. We appreciate your effective cooperation concerning the return of Nigeria’s money. It will be judiciously applied in attaining our development objectives,” the President told Catherine Colonna, the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, who delivered the news.

    The President, while emphasising the need to reinforce collaboration on both political and economic fronts, welcomed the growing cooperation between the two countries in areas of shared interest, such as climate change, economic integration, education, and culture. 

    Read Also: Tinubu welcomes repatriation of $150m Abacha loot by France

    On the situation in Niger Republic, President Tinubu, who is the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, said Nigeria is monitoring the situation in the neighbouring country, and exploring diplomatic channels to avoid bloodshed.

    “Leadership is about responding to the needs of the people; their cries, and their frustrations. Nigeria shares a border with Niger across the expanse of seven Nigerian states, and most of these states are very populated. Therefore, I need to guide ECOWAS carefully and steadily so that we manage our anger carefully.

    ‘’We have a colleague and a democratically-elected leader, President Bazoum, being used as a human shield. If we are not careful, he and his family can be endangered.

    ‘’I am deploying all appropriate back-channel strategies to avoid bloodshed in Niger Republic. We recognize the wishes of our people; they do not want war, but that does not mean we cannot take bold and decisive action,” the President affirmed.

    President Tinubu said Nigeria will continue to galvanize international partners in the determined pursuit of a peaceful resolution to the situation in Niger Republic.

    The French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs conveyed the goodwill of President Emmanuel Macron and expressed the readiness of France to expand mutually beneficial collaboration with Nigeria across multiple sectors.

    She proceeded to extend a formal invitation to President Bola Tinubu to attend the forthcoming Paris Peace Forum.

    Speaking on the Abacha loot, the French Presidential Envoy said the repatriation followed the completion of legal processes.

    “It was a long process, but we are glad that it was concluded. Sometimes, justice may be slow, but this is a very good achievement,” she said. 

    Ms. Colonna also commended President Tinubu’s leadership in ECOWAS, saying: “We support your efforts at ECOWAS. We are behind you because we believe that constitutional order is a treasure for all countries, and democracy must be a reality.”

  • Tinubu welcomes repatriation of $150m Abacha loot by France

    Tinubu welcomes repatriation of $150m Abacha loot by France

    President Bola Tinubu on Friday in Abuja expressed appreciation to France for the return of $150m stolen by former Head of State, General Sani Abacha.

    Tinubu’s appreciation to the French government was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

    In addition to the recovery of another tranche of Abacha loot, the President acknowledged the signing of a €100 million agreement between Nigeria and France to support the i-DICE programme — a federal government initiative to promote investment in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Creative Arts Industries.

    The agreement was signed by Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, at an earlier event at Tafawa Balewa House, the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    President Tinubu commended the strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and France, noting that this progress followed his visit to Paris after his inauguration.

    “Thank you for the good news on the return of Abacha loot. We appreciate your effective cooperation concerning the return of Nigeria’s money. It will be judiciously applied in attaining our development objectives,” the President told Catherine Colonna, the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, who delivered the news.

    Read Also: Court orders govts to release $5b Abacha loot details

    The President, while emphasizing the need to reinforce collaboration on both political and economic fronts, welcomed the growing cooperation between the two countries in areas of shared interest, such as climate change, economic integration, education, and culture.

    On the situation in Niger Republic, President Tinubu, who is the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, said Nigeria is monitoring the situation in the neighbouring country, and exploring diplomatic channels to avoid bloodshed.

    “Leadership is about responding to the needs of the people; their cries, and their frustrations. Nigeria shares a border with Niger across the expanse of seven Nigerian states, and most of these states are very populated. Therefore, I need to guide ECOWAS carefully and steadily so that we manage our anger carefully.

    ”We have a colleague and a democratically-elected leader, President Bazoum, being used as a human shield. If we are not careful, he and his family can be endangered.

    ”I am deploying all appropriate back-channel strategies to avoid bloodshed in Niger Republic. We recognize the wishes of our people; they do not want war, but that does not mean we can not take bold and decisive action,” the President affirmed.

    Tinubu said Nigeria will continue to galvanize international partners in the determined pursuit of a peaceful resolution to the situation in Niger Republic.

    The French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs conveyed the goodwill of President Emmanuel Macron and expressed the readiness of France to expand mutually beneficial collaboration with Nigeria across multiple sectors.

    She proceeded to extend a formal invitation to President Bola Tinubu to attend the forthcoming Paris Peace Forum.

    Speaking on the Abacha loot, the French Presidential Envoy said the repatriation followed the completion of legal processes.

    “It was a long process, but we are glad that it was concluded. Sometimes, justice may be slow, but this is a very good achievement,” she said.

    Ms. Colonna also commended President Tinubu’s leadership in ECOWAS, saying: “We support your efforts at ECOWAS. We are behind you because we believe that constitutional order is a treasure for all countries, and democracy must be a reality.”

  • How we spent $22.2m Abacha loot, by FG

    The Federal Government had disclosed that it has spent $22.216 million out the $322 million recovered Abacha loot on various empowerment schemes.

    The reason for spending the recovered Abacha loot it was revealed, was a “strategic approach to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.”

    This disclosure was made in Abuja on Thursday by the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Social Investments, Maryam Uwais, while giving account of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) of the Buhari administration.

    She stated that the disbursement of recovered Abacha loot started in 2018 because the National Social Investment Office (NSIO) needed to sort out issues with the back-end and ensured it dismantled all identified glitches.

    Read Also: Recruitment: NNPC to hold CBT for shortlisted candidates June 1

    The President’s Special Adviser also rejected World Poverty Clock report which identified Nigeria as the poverty capital of the world because half the population (91.6 million) are now extremely poor.

    Maryam Uwais noted that “the data and parameters used were 2012 figures and occurrences; which neither captured current realities nor is consistent with information domiciled with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).”

    According to her, the Social Investment Programmes designed to lift the masses out of poverty “are anchored on four broad pillars which are the N-Power, Conditional Cash Transfers (CCT), National Home-Grown School Feeding and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programmes (GEEP), each of the schemes uniquely targets different subgroups of Nigerians for empowerment; irrespective of religion, political affiliation and social class.”

    Under the N-Power initiative, Uwais said: “500,000 people spread across 774 Local Government Areas have been recruited to teach in public schools, act as health workers in primary health centres and as agriculture extension advisors to smallholder farmers in various communities.”

    She disclosed that government is “about to commence the N-Power STEAM Junior programme which will engage pupils in 12 government primary and secondary schools (as a pilot) to learn, as part of their school curriculum, computer programming, graphics, animation, etc. This is in a bid to develop the knowledge economy, with an eye on the future.”

    On the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), she noted that it was designed “to provide one nutritious, balanced meal for 200 school days in a year, to pupils in classes 1 to 3 in public primary schools to boost enrolment, increase the cognitive function in children and battle malnutrition.”

    According to her, “Nigeria is fast on its way to becoming the leader in Africa in NGHSFP by feeding over 9.7 million pupils and still counting. NGHSFP requires 94 metric tons of fish, 7,260,862 eggs and 767 cattle slaughtered for the pupils being fed. Fruits, vegetables and grains are part of the carefully thought-out balanced diet for all of the pupils.”

    With regards to the Conditional, Cash Transfer Programme, the SSA it was designed to deliver timely and accessible cash transfers to beneficiary households, as well as build their capacities for sustainable livelihoods, through a meticulous selection process.

    With regards to the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), Uwais said that “the initiative seeks to provide collateral and interest-free financial support to businesses at the bottom of the financial pyramid. Funds for the programme are managed by the Bank of Industry (BOI). There are currently three GEEP products; FarmerMoni, MarketMoni and TraderMoni. For the first two, funds between 10,000 to N350,000 are paid into the accounts of the successful applicants who belong to a registered cooperative or association (even if registered at LGA level), and have a bank account linked to a BVN.”

    “For TraderMoni, however, trained enumerators go into the market and clustered business areas to register traders who fit the set profile; which include an obvious petty trade, a phone and has a verifiable place of trade (kiosk, table-top, spot, area of hawking). The registered traders are then processed for disbursement of a N10,000 loan. Upon repayment within six months, the beneficiary becomes eligible for a larger amount, at which point s/he must open a bank account, with a BVN. Since inception, BOI has made 1,681,491 loans available to successful applicants in all the States and the FCT. Repayments are made through selected agents, which in itself has provided payment opportunities, across the country”, she stated.

  • Abacha loot: Swiss govt has returned over $1.04b to Nigeria since 1999, says Magu

    SINCE 1999, Swiss Government has returned about $1.040 billion looted by the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha and his family members to Nigeria, it was learnt yesterday.

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu gave the information in a presentation at the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities, (IAACA), in Vienna, Austria where he spoke about the need for an effective international collaboration by law enforcement agencies to combat corruption.

    He said the cost of corruption was enormous and needed a broader approach to be tackled.

    The excerpts of Magu’s submission were made available to reporters by the EFCC’s Acting Head of Media and Publicity Mr. Tony Orilade.

    Magu said: “Successes recorded in recovery of stolen assets have been achieved through Memoranda of Understanding, (MoU) signed between Nigeria and several countries, including Switzerland, the United Kingdom (UK), the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United States (U.S.) in line with Article 57 paragraph 5 of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, UNCAC.

    “The UK government returned stolen funds to Nigeria in the cases of Dariye and Alamieyeseigha, with over five million pounds recovered from the former Bayelsa State governor in 2012.

    “In the case of Joshua Dariye, a former Governor of Plateau State in Nigeria, the British government also returned £48,000 to Nigeria in fulfillment of the UK’s commitments under Chapter V of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.

    “In 1999, the Swiss authorities, pursuant to a request for mutual legal assistance, returned about $723m to Nigeria.

    Read also: INEC, ACPN kick as Ezekwesili ends presidential aspiration

    “A tripartite MoU between the Swiss government, the World Bank and Nigerian government also led to the return of additional $320 million Abacha loot.

    “Other classes of recoveries made by the EFCC included whistleblowers cash recoveries, subsidy payment cash recoveries, third party cash recovery for NNPC, FIRS, NPA, AMCON and banks.

    “In 2017, EFCC made a total recovery of N473, 065,195,977.50, $142,504,121.12, and most of the recoveries, were non-conviction based asset recovery.”

    Magu listed some of them to include, real estates belonging to Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former Petroleum Minister and her associates; $43,449,947, £27,800 and N23,218,000 recovered in an apartment at Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos in 2017; $9,772,800 and £74,000 cash in Kaduna, belonging to Andrew Yakubu, a former Group General Manager of NNPC in 2017.”

    Magu called for more international collaboration and synergy on repatriation of stolen wealth.

    “Corruption is acknowledged to have been an impediment to sustainable development in Africa, and the cost is so enormous that there is an urgent need for international collaboration for success to be achieved,” he said.

    According to him, “though the international community has created legal and institutional frameworks for the prevention and recovery of proceeds of corruption, recovery of stolen assets stashed away in foreign lands still remains a major issue to be tackled.”

  • Use Abacha Loot to fund Ajaokuta, Reps tell FG

    …say Original Russian builders to be recalled to complete complex

     

    The House of Representatives Thursday urged the Federal Government to use the recovered funds from the Abacha loot to finance the Ajaokuta steel complex.

    The lawmakers also said TPE of Russia (the original builders) should be recalled to complete the steel complex.

    These were part of the recommendations adopted from the report of the ad hoc committee on Ajaokuta Steel Complex headed by Hon. Idris Ahmed.

    Read Also:No plan to sell Ajaokuta Steel Plant, says Osinbajo

    “Since it is known that most of the Abacha loot was gotten from the debt by back deal involving Ajaokuta, then the recovered loots which are still flowing into Nigeria should be used to supplement the funding of the completion of the Ajaokuta integrated steel plant,” the lawmakers said.

    While considering the report of failure of the Ajaokuta Steel Company to commence operations since Inception, the Green Chamber also resolved:

    “That the Federal Government should demonstrate a strong political will, just like the United States President did recently in steel sector, to resuscitate the Ajaokuta Integrated Steel plant by direct sourcing and disbursement of about $2b needed to revamp and complete the 2% external aspects of the Integrated project.”

    The project they said include  “revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company and the National Iron Ore Manufacturing Company, Itakpe, completing the various external rail track system and access roads linkages; the development and optimal functioning of the various mining sites for steady supply of raw materials to guarantee an uninterrupted steel production when the blast furnace would be started.)

    “That the Federal Government should, as a matter of national interest and security, annul and terminate the recent reconcession agreement entered into with Global Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd (GINL) of 1st August 2016, as there is still an extant Federal Government indictment against the company (GINL).

    “That the Federal Government should cease from any further thought of concessioning and/or reconcessioning of the Nigerian Steel Companies as Nigeria has capable hands under the services of the Federal Republic to manage the integrated plants when properly funded;

    “That the Federal Government should revive relations with the original builders of the Company (TPE of Russia) towards wooing them back to continue and complete the good work they started alongside the current Management Team of indigenous Sole Administrators who have shown expertise and practical knowledge in the integrated steel plants management and production;

    “That the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should heed the Presidential directive of late President Yaradua in 2008, to prosecute all the collaborators of Global Infrastructures Nigeria Ltd as economic saboteurs;

    “That both the Company, Global Infrastructures Nigeria Ltd and all indicted local collaborators should be made to pay damages to the host communities that suffered loss of lives when the Company used brutal force against the workers (most of whom were community youths) who tried to stop the Company from stripping and vandalizing the assets of the concessioned plants;

    “That the Company, Global Infrastructures Nigeria Ltd and its associates be banned from further doing any business in Nigeria as its track record has been marred by duplicity and fraud;

    “That accelerated legislative work must be done by both Chambers of the National Assembly to ensure that both the Ajaokuta Steel Company and the National Iron Ore Manufacturing Company, Itakpe, are removed from the Privatization List;

    The recommendations were voted on and passed with the Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun.

     

  • Abacha loot: Foundation sends FoI request to Finance minister

    Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation (CNJF), a not-for-profit media organisation, has sent a Freedom of Information (FoI) request to Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun on the payment to lawyers in the recovery of $321 million Abacha loot from Luxembourg.

    Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami had engaged two Nigerian lawyers, Oladipo Okpeseyi and Temitope Isaac Adebayo, for the recovery after the money was returned to Nigeria with $1.5 million interest by the Swiss government.

    However, TheCable online newspaper, a partner organisation to Cable Foundation, reported that Enrico Monfrini, a Swiss lawyer, had done the legal work and completed recoveries for which he was paid in full by the Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2014.

    Monfrini denied allegations that he was asking for extra payment to complete the job, maintaining that the recovery had been finalised and all that was left was for Malami to write a letter to the Swiss government. However, Malami still engaged the services of two lawyers for a fee of $16.9 million (about N7 billion).

    CNJF had sent a FoI to Malami to make available copies of the agreements signed with Monfrini, but the attorney-general did not respond to the request. Cable Foundation’s lawyers, Kusamotu & Kusamotu, are now in court seeking an order of mandamus to compel the AGF to make the documents available in line with public interest.

    In the FoI request to Adeosun, the Cable Foundation is seeking a breakdown of the amount approved and released for the Nigerian lawyers between the time they were appointed and today as well as records showing payment timeline for the services of the Swiss lawyer.

    This request is in line with sections 2(3) & (4) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, which require all “information relating to the receipt or expenditure of public or other funds of the institution” to be “widely disseminated and more readily available.”

    “We are trying to help President Muhammadu Buhari in his war against corruption,” Mrs. Abiose Adelaja Adams, the programme officer of CNJF, said in a statement yesterday.

    The House of Representatives has set up an ad-hoc committee to probe the payments to lawyers.

    TheCable also reported earlier in the year that the American government has told Buhari it would not entertain the involvement of private lawyers in the return of another $500 million Abacha loot, which was domiciled with the US Department of Justice in 2014 after the recoveries by the Jonathan administration.

    The US government would only deal with Nigeria on a government-to-government basis, TheCable reported.

     

     

     

     

  • I know nothing about Abacha loot, says Al-Mustapha

    Chief Security Officer (CSO) to former Head of State General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, has said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is not fighting corruption, but only chasing the shadow.

    This was as he said he knew nothing about the controversial ‘Abacha loot’.

    Al-Mustapha spoke yesterday in Kaduna during an interactive session with the Christian community, under the auspices of United Christian Leaders, Eagle Eye Forum and 40 Christian Pressure Groups, during which he was asked to contest as Nigeria’s president.

    Speaking on corruption, Al-Mustapha said EFCC came overnight with few equipment and personnel and started making the loudest noise.

    “That is why I have likened it to small monkey given a thread to arrest an elephant. The monkey is always busy looking for the elephant. It was given binoculars to look for an elephant that is so close to it, but it is busy arresting ants and abandoning the elephant that is busy destroying the animal kingdom. That is what is going on today.

    “If you have to fight corruption in Nigeria, you have to tackle from multi-faceted angles, rather this small structure called the EFCC, which is not enough to fight corruption. It requires a bigger body that has the capacity of intelligence that can reach out to the international community to get our stolen funds stached abroad and equally prosecute, rather than relying on the regular Police to do that,” he said.

    On the Abacha loot, the former CSO to the late Head of State said he knew nothing about the so-called Abacha loot, even though the government had failed to respond to his challenge to state ‘when did Abacha take the money abroad, before or while in government’.