US to return $23m of Sani Abacha’s fortune to Nigeria
US to return $23m of Sani Abacha’s fortune to Nigeria
The United States has agreed to return another $23 million to Nigeria, from money allegedly looted and hidden abroad by former Nigerian military leader Sani Abacha.
It is part of a deal sealed Tuesday in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, between the two countries.
Justice Minister Abubakar Malami signed on behalf of Nigeria, while US Ambassador to Nigeria Mary Leonard signed the agreement on behalf of the US government.
Mr. Malami said the funds that will be repatriated “soon” will be used for infrastructure development in the country.
In 2020,
General Sani Abacha died while in office in 1998. He was accused of stealing billions of dollars of public funds and hiding them in Europe and the United States.
In recent years, the Nigerian government has secured the release of some of the loot from several countries, including Switzerland, Britain and the United States.
