The governments of Nigeria and the United States (U.S.A.) yesterday signed an agreement for the repatriation of $954,807.40 said to be part of looted assets recovered from the late Bayelsa State Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
The Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, signed on beheld of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Justice Minister Abubakar Malami, for Nigeria, while the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, signed for her country.
A the event held at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja, Mrs. Jedy-Agba said President Muhammadu Buhari had directed that the repatriated funds should be deployed to the improvement of health facilities in Bayelsa State.
The permanent secretary said the $954,807.40 was derived from property and investment funds in Maryland and Massachusetts in the U.S., in which Alamieyeseigha deployed some of the funds he looted while in office.
“You may recall that this asset return arose from the forfeiture and recovery of approximately $1 million linked to the corrupt practices of former Bayelsa State Governor D. S. P. Alamieyeseigha.
“The United States Government, in collaboration with the Federal Republic of Nigeria, initiated and completed forfeiture proceedings against certain real property and investment funds located in Maryland and Massachusetts against the former governor, which resulted in the net forfeiture to the Government of the United States of America, totaling $954,807.40.
“Following the court order, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the U.S.A. have negotiated and finalised the terms of the asset return agreement.
“It is worthy to note that in line with the terms of this agreement, Mr. President has already approved the expected sum to be utilised for implementation of a health centre project for the benefit of the people of Bayelsa State and to be monitored by the civil society organisations (CSOs) and the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Justice,” Mrs. Jedy-Agba said.
Ambassador Leonard noted that the agreement signing event was the conclusion of a legal process that was launched over 15 years ago to recover some assets unlawfully acquired by Alamieyeseigha while he served from 1999 until he was impeached in 2005.
The U.S. Ambassador said the recovery was as a result of the case the U.S. brought a case against Alamieyeseigha through the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, which is aimed at combating money laundering and corruption.
She assured Nigerians that her country would continue to do its part to deny safe haven for corrupt actors and the assets they have illicitly acquired, whether from here in Nigeria or other parts of the world.
Ambassador Leonard also assured Nigerians that returning more of such looted assets to the country and holding corrupt officials accountable would remain among the U.S. Embassy’s highest priority.
Bayelsa State Attorney General and Justice Commissioner Biriyai Dambo, who represented Governor Douye Diri, said the governor would ensure that the funds are applied for the purpose it is meant.
Dambo thanked the U.S. and Nigerian governments for their efforts at ensuring the repatriation of the looted funds.
