United States of America, has repatriated $950, 000, looted by a former governor of Bayelsa State, the late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, back to Nigeria.
The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, who signed the Asset Return Agreement with the federal government represented by the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, stressed that the returned loot should be used to improve healthcare infrastructure in Bayelsa State.
The US Ambassador said her country would continue to deny safe haven to corrupt public officials.
She said over 80 corrupt leaders were denied entry into the US.
“This marks the conclusion of a legal process launched over 15 years ago, following the tenure of governance of Peter Alamieyeseigha, also known as DSP.
“During his tenure as a public servant from 1999, until his impeachment in 2005, DSP’s official salary 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 law,” the Ambassador added.
The AGF, whose speech was read by the solicitor-general of the federation and permanent secretary of the federal ministry of justice, Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, commended the US government for ensuring that looted funds are returned to Nigeria.
The AGF noted that Nigeria has continued to enjoy favourable consideration from the US, not only in its agreement to return the funds that were looted from the Bayelsa State treasury, “but in other pending cases such as Galactica, Blue Assets, Saborne, amongst others”.
He said: “You may recall that this asset return arose from the forfeiture and recovery of approximately $1million 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 totaling the sum of $954, 807.40.
“Following the court order, the FRN and the USA have negotiated and finalized the terms of the asset return agreement.
“It is worthy to noted that in line with the terms of the Agreement, Mr. President has already approved the expected sum to be utilized for the implementation of a Health Center Project for the benefit of the people of Bayelsa state and to be monitored by the Civil Society Organizations and the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Justice.”
