The United States and Nigeria have signed an agreement for the repatriation of $954,000 loot stashed away by the former governor of Bayelsa State, late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
The agreement was signed yesterday in Abuja by the US ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Mary Leonard, and the solicitor general of the federation and permanent secretary, ministry of justice, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba.
The solicitor general said at the media briefing that the funds had been approved for the construction of a healthcare centre in Bayelsa State.
“This asset return arose from the forfeiture and recovery of approximately $1 million USD linked to the corrupt practices of former Bayelsa state governor, D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha.
“The United States government, in collaboration with the Federal Republic of Nigeria initiated and completed forfeiture proceedings against certain real property and investment funds located in Maryland and Massachusetts against the former governor which resulted in the net forfeiture to the Government of United States of America totalling the sum of $954,807.40.
“Following the court order, the FRN and the USA have negotiated and finalised the terms of the asset return agreement.
“It is worthy to note that in line with the terms of this agreement, Mr. President has already approved the expected sum to be utilised for the implementation of a health centre project for the benefit of the people of Bayelsa State and to be monitored by the civil society organisations and the federal government, through the federal ministry of justice,” she said.
Also speaking, Leonard said it was impossible for the former governor to have legitimately possessed the funds since his salary while he was governor between 1999 and 2005 “did not exceed the equivalent of about $81,000 per year”.
“However, during that time, he accumulated millions of dollars worth of property through corrupt acts such as abuse of office, money laundering, and other violations of Nigerian and US laws.
“The United States court case against DSP through the kleptocracy asset recovery initiative is part of our efforts to combat money laundering and corruption.
“Prosecutors working under this initiative are responsible for investigations and litigation to recover the proceeds of foreign official corruption.
“The funds are returned in accordance with our obligations under the UN Convention against corruption and to further the tenets of transparency and accountability set forth in the global forum on asset recovery principles for disposition and transfer of confiscated stolen assets and corruption,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has applauded the bilateral agreement between Nigeria and the US to repatriate the money.
The executive director, Rev. David Ugolor, who spoke at the signing ceremony, pledged that his organisation would work closely with the federal ministry of justice, Bayelsa State government and the United States government in ensuring judicious deployment of the loot for the benefit of the people.
“We have worked with the Bayelsa State NGOs Forum (BANGOF) to organise stakeholders’ meetings in the past, where it was decided that the money should be channelled to improving primary healthcare facilities in the state as enshrined in the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) principles. This is against the initial proposal for building of judges’ quarters proposed by the previous administration in the state. We are glad that the effort has yielded expected result,” he said.
Recall that Alamieyeseigha, who died at the age of 62, in October 2015 was detained in London on charges of money laundering in September 2005. At the time of his arrest, Metropolitan police found about £1m in cash in his London home.
Later they found a total of £1.8m ($3.2m) in cash and bank accounts.
He was found to have owned four homes in London worth an alleged £10 million. He jumped bail in December 2005 from the United Kingdom by allegedly disguising himself as a woman, though Alamieyeseigha denied this claim.
The deceased was impeached on allegations of corruption on 9 December 2005 and former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was his deputy at the time, took over.
On July 26, 2007, Alamieyeseigha pleaded guilty before a Nigerian court to six charges and was sentenced to two years in prison on each charge.
