Trump Shuts Down DOJ Unit Investigating Alleged Abacha Loot

U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly shut down a Department of Justice unit responsible for tracking funds linked to Nigeria’s late military ruler, Sani Abacha.

According to a report by Peoples Gazette on Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump has discreetly dismantled the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative—a division of the Department of Justice focused on identifying billions of dollars embezzled by Nigeria’s former military leader Sani Abacha and assets linked to international corruption cases.

A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed that earlier this week, Trump authorized the disbanding of the unit.

Newly appointed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi implemented the decision as part of broader efforts by the administration to reduce several government programs.

The decision has caused alarm among anti-corruption activists, as the team was crucial in recovering and prosecuting cases involving billions of dollars in embezzled funds. Significantly, they were managing ongoing legal proceedings related to Abacha’s stolen assets, some of which have been associated with Atiku Bagudu, Nigeria’s current budget minister under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Dismantling the unit might hinder attempts to discover and recover more funds linked to Abacha, which investigators suspect remain concealed in several jurisdictions. The Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative was established in 2010 with the specific purpose of pursuing assets connected to global corruption networks.

Attempts to reach Dele Oyewale, the spokesperson for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), were unsuccessful by the time this report was filed. Likewise, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga did not reply to requests for comment.

It is still uncertain how the DOJ will manage ongoing cases in U.S. courts or if it will continue collaborating with parallel investigations in the United Kingdom and other countries that are focused on recovering the Abacha loot.

The Trump administration has announced plans to shift its focus toward addressing narcotics trafficking and human trafficking networks.