JERSEY RETURNS $9.5M STOLEN FUNDS TO NIGERIA FOR ABUJA-KANO ROAD PROJECT
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–Nigeria is set to receive $9.5 million in stolen funds from Jersey, a British Crown Dependency, to support the Abuja-Kano Road project. The funds, deemed proceeds of corruption, were held in a Jersey bank account and forfeited following a civil forfeiture action .
Key Developments:
– Corruption Scheme : The Royal Court of Jersey ruled that the funds were “more likely than not” proceeds of a corrupt scheme involving senior Nigerian officials and their associates.
– Repatriation Agreement : Jersey’s Attorney General, Mark Temple KC, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in December 2025, authorizing the repatriation.
– Infrastructure Project : The funds will complete the final stages of the 375-kilometre Abuja-Kano Road, a vital transport link between Nigeria’s capital and its second-largest city.
– Previous Agreements: This MoU builds on two previous agreements between Jersey and Nigeria, returning over $300 million for infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Second Niger Bridge.
Quotes:
– “This successful return demonstrates the strength of our civil forfeiture legislation as a powerful tool in the fight against corruption” – Mark Temple KC
– “The successful recovery and repatriation of the forfeited assets underscores the effectiveness of Nigeria’s collaborative efforts with its international partners” – Lateef Fagbemi, Nigeria’s Attorney-General
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