The Federal Government (FG) has revealed that the United States handed over $52.88 million in assets linked to former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Alison-Madueke fled to London shortly after leaving office in May 2015 and has remained abroad ever since, facing numerous allegations of embezzlement during her tenure.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, announced this during a formal asset recovery agreement signing held in Abuja on Friday.
Fagbemi revealed that $50 million of the recovered funds would be allocated through the World Bank to support rural electrification projects across Nigeria.
The remaining $2.88 million he said will be earmarked for the International Institute of Justice to enhance the justice system and strengthen anti-corruption efforts.
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He said the return marks a milestone in the collaborative efforts between Nigeria and the United States to fight corruption and promote the rule of law.
Fagbemi further stated that the return of the money reflects President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to addressing corruption head-on.
However, Richard Mills, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, commended the recovery process and called on the Ministry of Justice to ensure the effective management and utilization of the funds for the benefit of the Nigerian people.
