- Pix above: Gen Sani Abacha
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Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International(TI), France chapter, have called on Nigeria and France to uphold asset recovery laws ahead of the return of another $150 million looted by former Nigerian Head of State, Sani Abacha.
–Awwal Rafsanjani
In a statement signed by CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, and TI’s Head of Illicit Financial Flows Program in France, Sara Brimbeuf, the CSOs urged the Nigerian government to be vigilant about misappropriation of funds.
The coming return of $150 million from France to Nigeria was announced during the launch of the Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR), Action Series.
The anti-corruption watchdogs, in the statement titled: ‘$150M Abacha Loot: Time for France and Nigeria to Uphold Asset Recovery Laws’, posed questions about the commencement of negotiations between France and Nigeria, the criteria for selecting projects or programmes funded by the returned funds, and the inclusion of civil society organisations in the return process.
France, despite not having returned confiscated assets previously, has recently established a legal framework for asset restitution, emphasising transparency and accountability principles.
The statement emphasised that the impending restitution presents an opportunity for both France and Nigeria to implement their respective legal frameworks, ensuring transparency and accountability in the return process, with active involvement from civil society organisations.
The CSOs noted Nigeria’s extensive experience in asset return, having recovered over $4 billion from different jurisdictions over the past three decades.
“While commendable for efforts in repatriation, Nigeria faces challenges in the transparent and accountable management of these assets.
“The recent adoption of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act 2022) is seen as a positive step, assigning roles and responsibilities to relevant institutions and providing a provision for civil society to monitor implementation.
“The return process is part of proceedings initiated in the United States in 2014, where a court entered judgment forfeiting approximately $500 million linked to money laundering involving Abacha’s corruption,” it stated.
They stressed the importance of the upcoming restitution, portraying it as an excellent chance for both France and Nigeria to demonstrate commitment to transparency and accountability in asset recovery, setting a model for other destination countries./PLEASE SHARE
- Tags: Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, , Sara Brimbeuf, Abacha loot, Nigeria and France, CISLAC, TI
