Jersey to Return $9.5 Million Looted by Abacha

Authorities in Jersey have agreed to repatriate over $9.5 million (£7 million) linked to corrupt practices to the Nigerian government, marking another milestone in Nigeria’s long-running campaign to recover looted assets from the military era.

The funds are believed to have been stolen by the late former military ruler, Sani Abacha, who governed Nigeria from 1993 to 1998.

Although recovered during ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, legal delays prevented their return for several years.

In December 2025, Jersey’s Attorney-General, Mark Temple, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Nigeria to facilitate the repatriation.

The money had been held in a Jersey bank account. This agreement builds on two prior arrangements between Jersey and Nigeria, which returned over $300 million (£230 million) in recovered assets.

A January 2024 ruling by Jersey’s Royal Court determined that the funds were “more likely than not” proceeds of corruption, noting that third-party contractors diverted public money for the benefit of senior Nigerian officials and associates.

Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, stated the funds will be used strictly according to the MoU and will support the final stages of a major highway project linking Abuja to Nigeria’s second-largest city, a key transport corridor.

Temple praised the repatriation as a demonstration of the strength of Jersey’s civil forfeiture laws, describing them as a powerful tool in the fight against corruption.