Nigeria is set to receive an additional $9.5 million (£7 million) in recovered funds linked to the late former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, following an agreement with the United Kingdom’s Jersey authorities.
According to the BBC, Jersey has approved the repatriation of the money to the Nigerian government after prolonged legal proceedings that delayed its return for several years.
The funds, described by Jersey authorities as proceeds of “tainted property,” form part of the vast sums looted during Abacha’s rule between 1993 and 1998. The money was held in a bank account in Jersey and became entangled in court disputes despite being initially recovered during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
A major breakthrough occurred in December 2025, when Jersey’s Attorney-General, Mark Temple, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nigerian authorities, paving the way for the final repatriation of the assets.
The latest agreement reinforces earlier cooperation between Jersey and Nigeria, which has already resulted in the return of over $300 million (£230 million) in Abacha-linked funds in previous recoveries.
The Nigerian government is expected to receive the funds in line with agreed transparency and monitoring frameworks governing the use of recovered assets.
Comments