Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) is set to organize a side event at the Civil Society Forum of the annual World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring meeting scheduled for October 15-18, 2019 in Washington DC.
ANEEJ is lead organization implementing the Transparency and Accountability in the recovery and management of recovered assets (MANTRA) project, supported by the British Department for International Development (DFID).
A statement issued yesterday in Abuja by Acting Executive Director, Mr. Leo Atakpu said this was sequel to the approval of a slot granted ANEEJ by the World Bank Civil Society Team it conveyed in a letter addressed to the Executive Director of the organization.
The World Bank Civil Society letter made available to newsmen reads in part: “We would like to inform you that the review committee found your proposal “The Role of the World Bank in Facilitating Stolen Asset Return” timely and interesting. Therefore, we are pleased to provide a slot for this session at the CSPF.
According to Mr Atakpu, “this is cheery news for us as implementers of the MANTRA project because it affords us the opportunity to continue to tell the good story emanating from Nigeria.
“It is important to repatriate looted assets to finance development and that the recovered assets must be returned to Nigeria. Contrary to what used to happen in the past, returned loot is now being positively managed and used for the victims of corruption,” Atakpu said.
“We are going to Washington DC to tell the MANTRA story of positive use of returned $322.5million Abacha loot returned from Switzerland. We will also use the opportunity to push for the repatriation of seized Abacha and other loot currently stashed in the USA and other jurisdictions. Nigeria now has systems that can guarantee their utilization for the benefit of the poor.
“CSPF is an integral part of the World Bank Group (WBG) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring and Annual Meetings. It will provide ANEEJ and the MANTRA team space for dialogue and view exchange with World Bank and IMF staff, their peers, government delegations, and other stakeholders on issues of asset recovery and management.” Mr. Atakpu said.
“We are currently putting together a strong team of experienced and highly knowledgeable panelists for the session. We are also drawing up a list of participants from around the world to make a very meaningful outing at this year’s Bank and Fund Spring meeting in Washington DC,” Atakpu stated.
