This assertion was made by Mrs. Ladidi Mohammed, Director of Assets Recovery and Management Unit (ARMU) of the Federal Ministry of Justice, during an Assets Recovery Event, recently held at the Residence of the Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria in the capital city of Abuja.
‘’Nigeria is the most active of all the countries working on Assets Recovery Programme in the world, many thanks to the Reverend David Ugolor led Africa Network for Environment & Economic Justice (ANEEJ) and the Nigeria Network on Stolen Assets (NNSA) members that have passionately and consistently engaged the issues since the Global Forum on Assets Recovery (GFAR) meeting held in Washington in December, 2017’’
She said that the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice was proactive about the recovery of assets stolen and dumped within and outside the shores of Nigeria by looters, hence the recent establishment of the ARMU within the ministry.
Mohammed disclosed that the sum of $73.3 million dollars was recovered from Britain in February 2018 that the Abacha (3) looted funds and other looted monies stacked abroad were being repatriated with all necessary vigor and attention from the ARMU and the office of the Vice- President.
Speaking at the event Rev. David Ugolor, Executive Director of ANEEJ, who profusely thanked the Swiss Ambassador, His Excellency, Eric Mayoraz, for graciously hosting the event and Ms. Debbie Palmer, Head of Department of International Development (DFID) Nigeria for partnership, pledged the continued commitment of members of Nigeria Network on Stolen Assets (NNSA) to the assets recovery advocacy in the country, most especially to the success of the Citizens led Open Partnership meeting slated for July 11 2018.
The high profile event was graced by Dr. Oliver Stolpe, Team Leader, Nigerian Stolen Assets Recovery Initiative of the World Bank at UNODC, Mrs. Juliet Ibebaku- Nwagwu, Special Assistant to the President on Justice Reform/Coordinator of Open Government Partnership (OGP), Federal Ministry of Justice, representative of Mrs. Maryam Uwais, Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment and renowned members of civil society organizations in the country etc.
ANEEJ is at the forefront of citizens’ dialogue on the road map for Nigeria Post-Global Forum on Assets Recovery (GFAR) and the assets recovery and management regime in Nigeria.
ANEEJ had earlier on June 27, 2018 organized a citizens’ Dialogue on Post-GFAR Roadmap and Assets Recovery Regime meeting at the Newton Park Hotels and Resort, Abuja, attended by more than 100 members of NNSA which generated a communiqué that was read during the Event of June 28, 2018, hosted by the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria.
