The government of Switzerland is prepared to transfer to the Nigerian
government, another $300 million recovered from the family of former
military ruler, Sani Abacha, foreign minister, Geoffrey Onyeama,
announced Monday.
The money is part of an estimated $5 billion stolen and stashed in foreign accounts by the late dictator.
Nigeria
has in the last 10 years received over $1 billion from the Swiss and
American governments, but there are growing concerns past
administrations misused the huge sum.
PREMIUM TIMES reported in
December 2015 how former finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, with the
approval of former President Goodluck Jonathan, authorised the
diversion of at least N61.4 billion ($300 million and £5.5 million) from
funds recovered from Mr. Abacha, to the Office of the National Security
Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, few weeks before the 2015 presidential election.
The
former minister said the money, which was not approved by the National
Assembly, was meant for purchase of military equipment for the fight
against Boko Haram.
The money is believed to be part of at least $2.1
billion slush fund later distributed by Mr. Dasuki to politicians ahead
of the polls. An ongoing investigation into the scandal as led to the
indictment of several high profile figures.
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