A whopping 211 million pound sterling (about 81.9 billion naira) has been seized from the account of Nigerian late military despot Sani Abacha from a Jersey bank account by the United Kingdom government, more than twenty years after his demise.
Abacha, Who ruled Nigeria under a despotic military regime died on June 8, 1998, after more than five years in office as Nigerian military head of state.
A report by UK Metro showed that the money was put in accounts held in Jersey by Doraville Properties Corporation, a British Virgin Islands company.
The report further stated that the money is now being held by the government until authorities in Jersey, the US and Nigeria agree on how it should be distributed.
“Any money that Jersey does keep will be put into the Criminal Confiscation Fund, which is used to pay for a variety of projects. In the past, the fund has been used for the new police station and developments at La Moye Prison.
“It is expected that even more money held by Doraville is likely to be seized and paid into the Civil Asset Recovery Fund in the future,” the report said.
In 2014, at the request of the US authorities, the Island’s Attorney-General applied for, and the Royal Court granted, a restraining order over the Jersey bank account balance of Doraville.
“The purpose of the restraining order was to preserve the money until a final civil asset recovery order could be registered in the Royal Court. ”
Doraville applied to the Royal Court for the restraint order to be discharged, but the Royal Court dismissed the application in 2016.
Then in 2017, Doraville challenged the Royal Court’s decision, taking the case to Jersey’s Court of Appeal.
“That challenge was again rejected. Finally, following the decision of Jersey’s Court of Appeal, Doraville made an application to appeal against the restraint order before the Privy Council – Jersey’s ultimate appellate court.”
A report by UK Metro showed that the money was put in accounts held in Jersey by Doraville Properties Corporation, a British Virgin Islands company.
The report further stated that the money is now being held by the government until authorities in Jersey, the US and Nigeria agree on how it should be distributed.
“Any money that Jersey does keep will be put into the Criminal Confiscation Fund, which is used to pay for a variety of projects. In the past, the fund has been used for the new police station and developments at La Moye Prison.
“It is expected that even more money held by Doraville is likely to be seized and paid into the Civil Asset Recovery Fund in the future,” the report said.
“The purpose of the restraining order was to preserve the money until a final civil asset recovery order could be registered in the Royal Court. ”
Doraville applied to the Royal Court for the restraint order to be discharged, but the Royal Court dismissed the application in 2016.
Then in 2017, Doraville challenged the Royal Court’s decision, taking the case to Jersey’s Court of Appeal.
“That challenge was again rejected. Finally, following the decision of Jersey’s Court of Appeal, Doraville made an application to appeal against the restraint order before the Privy Council – Jersey’s ultimate appellate court.”
More than $5 billion stolen from Nigeria treasury have been recovered from Swiss and other foreign accounts held by the late head of state after his death.
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