A sum of £6.9 million ($8.9 million) in stolen assets has been ordered by a Royal Court in Jersey, United States, to be returned to Nigeria.
The assets were allegedly diverted by Nigerian government officials in 2014, who claimed that the funds were intended for the purchase of weapons to combat Boko Haram militants.
The court ruling, based on evidence that the money was likely stolen by Nigerian government officials, stated that the funds were deposited in a Jersey bank account and were not used for the intended purpose of acquiring arms.
The Attorney General of Jersey, Mark Temple KC, stated that the government of Jersey is working closely with Nigeria to repatriate the funds and intends to negotiate an asset return agreement with the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This case highlights the effectiveness of the 2018 Forfeiture Law in recovering proceeds of corruption and returning them to the victims of crime.
