TheCable

The federal government is in negotiations with the United States on the repatriation of another $500 million looted by Sani Abacha, the former military head of state.

The repatriation this time, however, would be done without middlemen — in what should be considered a victory for the campaign against sleaze in the loot recovery.

“I am happy to report that we are almost concluding the processes relating to the repatriation of additional $500 million,” Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF), announced on Wednesday after the federal executive council meeting.

TheCable reported how Malami attempted to, again, engage private lawyers who were going to take a cut as “legal fees”.

Most of the recoveries were done by Enrico Monfrini, a Swiss lawyer, who vehemently denied syndicated media articles that he was asking for another 20% of the recovered funds for the final leg of the restitution to Nigeria.

The US had promised to return the $500 million but on a government-to-government arrangement — without the involvement of the “appointed intermediaries”.