Nearly 15 years after the death of General Sani Abacha, Nigeria’s
former military ruler, the Swiss Government has said that it has so far
returned to Nigeria the sum of $700 million stolen by the late dictator
and deposited in several Swiss banks.
The Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Hans-Rudolf Hodel, announced the figure at a media briefing in Abuja, yesterday.
The Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Hans-Rudolf Hodel, announced the figure at a media briefing in Abuja, yesterday.
Hodel also hinted that his country had begun proceedings in Geneva
against one of Abacha’s sons -Abba, for allegedly sponsoring a criminal
organization but did not give further details.
The envoy explained also that in the last 15 years, Switzerland has
returned about $1.7 billion of illicit money to their countries of
origin including Angola, Peru, Nigeria and the Philippines.
The briefing was in respect of an international seminar by the
Switzerland embassy and the Inter-Governmental Action Group against
Money Laundering in West Africa, GIABA, and Combating the Financing of
Terrorism.
The envoy however used the forum to deny the existence of fresh $1
billion being alluded to by former President Olusegun Obasanjo as still
being held by the Swiss banks.
Hodel stated that the Abacha’s case in particular compelled his
country to adopt more stringent measures to combat illicit dealings in
its financial sector.
He said: “Swiss banking secrecy does not give any protection against
criminal prosecution, neither within Switzerland nor regarding
international legal assistance. Additional measures prevent assets from
being withdrawn before foreign authorities and law enforcement agencies
submit a formal request for legal assistance or information for
investigative purposes.”
He expressed the hope that the repatriated funds would not be embezzled by corrupt officials of the benefitting nations.
He also spoke on the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Switzerland noting that $225 million was invested by Swiss businesses in the Nigerian economy in 2010 up from $201 million in 2009.
He also spoke on the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Switzerland noting that $225 million was invested by Swiss businesses in the Nigerian economy in 2010 up from $201 million in 2009.
It will be recalled that a Geneva court had two months ago confirmed
the sentence handed down on the son of the former Nigerian dictator Sani
Abacha for belonging to a criminal organisation linked to looted assets
charges
Vanguard
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