Recovered Abacha Loot To Fund Abuja–Kano Road
Over $9.5m Abacha Funds to Boost Abuja–Kano Road Project
Funds From Corruption Back in Public Use
MORE than $9.5 million stolen during Nigeria’s military era will soon be redirected to public infrastructure, as Jersey finalises plans to repatriate funds linked to former dictator Sani Abacha.
The return follows a Memorandum of Understanding between Jersey and Nigeria aimed at ensuring recovered assets directly benefit citizens.
From Offshore Accounts to Public Roads
The funds were seized from a Jersey bank account linked to Doraville, a shell company investigators say was used to hide proceeds of corruption. The money had been frozen since 2019 after being traced through complex international transactions involving US financial institutions.
Legal Framework and International Cooperation
Jersey’s civil forfeiture proceedings were initiated in late 2023 under its 2018 asset recovery law. Officials say the success of the case reflects years of collaboration between Jersey authorities, Nigerian investigators, and US agencies.
Under the agreement, Jersey and the United States will each retain $5 million, while Nigeria receives the remaining sum.
Strategic Infrastructure Focus
The repatriated funds will support the final phase of the Abuja–Kano Road, a major transport corridor linking northern and central Nigeria. The road is expected to improve logistics, reduce accidents, and stimulate economic growth across multiple states.
Officials Speak
Attorney General Mark Temple said the repatriation demonstrated Jersey’s resolve to combat financial crime, while Nigeria’s Justice Minister, Lateef Fagbemi, described it as proof that stolen wealth can no longer find refuge abroad.
A Continuing Reckoning
Although Nigeria has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars looted during the Abacha years, analysts say the long recovery timeline reflects the complexity of dismantling offshore financial secrecy.
The latest repatriation adds another chapter to a decades-long effort to reclaim stolen national wealth and convert it into tangible development.
