A Royal Court in Jersey, United States, has ruled that stolen assets amounting to £6.9 million ($8.9 million) be repatriated to Nigeria.
The assets were allegedly diverted by Nigerian government officials in 2014, under the pretext of acquiring arms to combat Boko Haram insurgents, according to BBC reports.
The funds, reportedly stolen during the Goodluck Jonathan administration, were subject to a forfeiture notice presented to the court by Mark Temple KC, Jersey’s Attorney General.
The court’s decision emphasizes that the funds, deposited in a Jersey bank account, were not utilized for the intended arms purchase.
Background
The case traces back to 2014 when Nigerian government officials purportedly misappropriated funds meant for combating Boko Haram.
The diverted £6.9 million ($8.9 million) was claimed to be allocated for the purchase of arms, but investigations have revealed a different path for these funds.
During the Goodluck Jonathan administration, concerns over corruption and mismanagement of public funds had surfaced.
The recent court ruling sheds light on the specific instance of the alleged diversion, highlighting the intricacies of the case that date back to a period of political turbulence.
Jersey’s Royal Court, responding to the forfeiture notice, concluded that the £6.9 million ($8.9 million) in question had indeed been deposited in a Jersey bank account. Contrary to the claimed purpose, the funds were not utilized for the intended arms purchase, as asserted by the Nigerian government officials.
The verdict underscores the importance of proper allocation and use of public funds, especially in cases involving international transactions.
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