The Royal Court in Jersey, United States, has ruled that assets worth £6.9 million ($8.9 million), be returned to Nigeria.
The funds, allegedly diverted by Nigerian government officials in 2014 under the pretext of purchasing arms to combat Boko Haram, were deposited in a Jersey bank account.
The court found that the money was likely stolen by Nigerian government officials and not used for its intended purpose of buying weapons.
The controversy surrounding the purchase of weapons during the fight against insurgency involved accusations against the then National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, for diverting funds meant for security equipment.
In a related incident in late 2014, a private jet was apprehended in South Africa with $10 million in cash, allegedly earmarked for military weapons acquisition.
Jersey’s Attorney General, Mark Temple KC, initiated a forfeiture notice, leading to the court’s decision.
Temple revealed that part of the funds had been shared with family members of politicians in the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the 2015 general election.
The Royal Court’s order reflects the effectiveness of the 2018 Forfeiture Law in recovering proceeds of corruption and returning the funds to victims of crime.
Temple expressed the intention to negotiate an asset return agreement with the Federal Republic of Nigeria, highlighting the close partnership between the Government of Jersey and Nigeria in this repatriation effort.
