UK Government Recovers $23M Abacha Loot

The sum of $23M looted by ex-head of state, Sani Abacha, his family, and counterparts has been recovered by the National Crime Agency (NCA) of the United Kingdom.

According to the NCA, the looted funds were recovered after the USDOJ requested enforcement of the U.S. forfeiture order relating to the seized monies after nearly seven years of litigation and international negotiations to secure the recovery order, further disclosed that it is part of a wider pool of funds identified by the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) as having been stolen out of Nigeria in the 1990s by Mr Abacha and his accomplices.

Billy Beattie, Asset Denial Senior Manager at the NCA, in a statement issued on May 5 via the U.K.’s crime agency website reiterated the readiness of the agency to tackle corruption to the fullest.

The official further stated that they are out to ensure that those who perpetrate corruption do not benefit from their actions.

The statement reads:

“The NCA is committed to ensuring that the UK is not a haven for criminals to launder their proceeds of crime, and the civil recovery of assets is a powerful weapon in this fight.

“We work closely with the UK and international partners to tackle the threat posed by corruption, which disproportionately impacts the poorest and most vulnerable members of society.

“We are committed to ensuring that those who perpetrate corruption do not benefit from their actions.”