US Returns $52.88m Recovered from Former Petroleum Minister Diezani to Nigeria
By Our Reporter
The United States government has announced plans to return $52.88 million in recovered assets linked to former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke to Nigeria.
Mrs. Alison-Madueke, 64, who also served as the president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), was a significant figure in the Nigerian government from 2010 to 2015.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, made the announcement during the formal signing ceremony of the asset agreement between Nigeria and the United States in Abuja on Friday.
In his remarks, Fagbemi explained that $50 million of the recovered assets would be allocated through the World Bank for the development of rural electrification projects.
The remaining $2 million will be directed to the International Institute for Justice to enhance the judicial system and combat corruption.
Furthermore, an additional $2.88 million will be granted to the International Institute for Justice (IIJ) to support the “Rule of Law and Counter-Terrorism Project,” which will provide counter-terrorism capacity building for criminal justice sector practitioners in East, West, and North Africa.
Fagbemi expressed gratitude to the United States for its cooperation in the recovery process and assured that measures had been implemented to ensure transparency in the use of these funds.
“I would like to thank the United States government for their steadfast support and cooperation in this endeavor,” Fagbemi said.
“Your commitment to justice and the rule of law has been instrumental in making this agreement a reality. However, I urge you to maintain the same level of cooperation and understanding in other pending repatriation cases, so that agreements related to those cases can be concluded as soon as possible, as Nigeria is in dire need of these funds.”
He added that this event represents a significant step by President Bola Tinubu in addressing corruption.
Meanwhile, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, emphasized the importance of monitoring and effectively utilizing the recovered assets by the Ministry of Justice for the benefit of the Nigerian people.
