GENEVA(AFP) – Liechtenstein said Wednesday it would return 167 million euros ($227 million) to Nigeria, ending a drawn-out battle by the African country to recover cash looted by late dictator Sani Abacha.
Abacha, who died in 1998, is suspected of having looted the Nigerian central bank to the tune of about $2.2 billion when he ruled Africa’s most populous nation from November 1993 to June 1998. Some estimates said he stole close to $4billion.
Nigeria first requested help from Liechtenstein in 2000 to recover the cash stashed there.
The tiny principality of some 37,000 people returned 7.5 million euros to Nigeria in late 2013, but the restitution of the bulk of the cash has long been blocked by lawsuits brought by companies linked to Abacha’s family.
Several of the companies were sentenced in 2008 to repay money proven to have been taken from Nigeria’s national budget, but four of the firms filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
Following negotiations between the governments of Liechtenstein and Nigeria, the four ended up withdrawing their complaints in May, “clearing the path for repatriation of the assets once and for all,” Vaduz said in a statement Wednesday.
The World Bank had agreed “to monitor the use of the repatriated assets,” the statement said.
Liechtenstein announcement coincided with the withdrawal of a suit by Nigeria’s Federal Government against Mohammed Abacha over close to N120billion theft, made up of $140million and 385 million pounds, stolen from Nigeria’s treasury.
![Plateau State University[PLASU], kidnappers storm school](https://i2.wp.com/www.pmnewsnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/plateau-state-university-e1485787020921.jpg?resize=218%2C150&ssl=1 "JUST IN: Kidnappers strike at Plateau State University [PLASU]")
This loot is dam too much, what I think d present government can do to save dis nation is to keep dis money in Liechtenstein and later work on it after presidential election of 2015
Am owing my landlord and school fees.pls this money should go to central bank,if not it will get missing.
pls,i haven’t paid my rent and school fees.FG pls try i beg
Finally they refund the money..
USA Reduced Aid to Uganda over Anti-Gay Law — Is Nigeria Next?
Could our country be next? Will the Federal Government bend the laws to continue to get aid?
http://gistyinka.net/usa-reduced-aid-uganda-anti-gay-law-nigeria-next/
the money would be used for elections in our states
…same Abacha is a hero in kwankwaso’s Kano. His stickers adorn all the rickety NAPEP tricycles and rusted buses and what passes as taxis in Kano.
Had Abacha been alive, he would have been in the APC party with Mr Kwankwaso.
DONKEYS….
This is the same family that was recognized by this present government.
ABACHA LOOT still reverberating across Europe and the entire world. Abacha is the epitome of awusa patriotism. Yet, the thieving clan has the temerity to dare to be heard in this country. Wretched bandits and barbaric killers duka’n su..
Thieve steals, thieve recover and thieves steals again. Poor man remain poor !
@ sunny akhigbe u are right all this apc paid agents will not allow us have peace of mind .
@Lasisi,
Why don’t you take custody of the money until “sanity returns” to Nigeria? I doubt if you have read or heard about Diogenes of Sycore, the father of Cynicism who reportedly went about in broad daylight in the streets of Athens with a lantern. He was one of the greatest philosophers and critics of the Greek authorities of his time. When asked why he did that, he said he was looking for an “honest man” and of course he did not find one. When will sanity return to Nigeria? Please get some education!
ope ooo!!! pls put this money on education i beg ooo.
That money should not be released to this thiefing government,maybe when sanity returns to Nigeria.
Thank God…… But our fear is where will the money go again,is it not to finiance our enemy of peace