Court orders return of £6.9 million stolen under Jonathan’s administration to Nigeria
A UK court has ruled that £6.9 million looted under former President Goodluck Jonathan be returned to Nigeria.
The funds looted by officials of the Jonathan-led government between 2009 and 2014 were said to be disguised as funds for arms and munitions purchases to combat Boko Haram.
“The court ruled the money, deposited in a Jersey bank account, was likely stolen by officials in the Nigerian government in 2014,” BBC reported on Tuesday.
“The transfer of money was disguised as government-sanctioned contracts for arms purchases during incursions by Boko Haram in Nigeria between 2009 and 2015,” it added.
This ruling followed an earlier forfeiture order from the Royal Court in Jersey by its attorney general in November.
The UK government is now negotiating how the funds will be returned to Nigeria.
Attorney General Mark Temple KC said the latest fund returned to Nigeria “demonstrates the effectiveness of the 2018 Forfeiture Law in recovering the proceeds of corruption and restoring that money to victims of crime.
“I now intend to negotiate an asset return agreement with the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The UK court ruling comes almost a decade after Mr Jonathan left office.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari, who took over from Mr Jonathan, initiated a probe into arms purchase funds. This development saw former National Security Adviser Dasuki Sambo in detention for nearly four years.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
States
Kwara records 122 cases of domestic violence
The NHRC coordinator said the cases were not limited to physical assault but included emotional, sexual and economic abuse.
Politics
Wike charges Gwagwalada residents to go all-in for Tinubu, APC candidates
Mr Wike urged residents not to treat election day like any ordinary day but to go all out for Messrs Tinubu, Aduda and Chiya.
World
Russia backs Ghana’s application to join BRICS as partner country
Russia has announced its support for Ghana’s application to join the BRICS economic bloc as a partner country.
Africa
Guinea inaugurates first gold refinery
Mr Sylla said the government’s current objective is to refine 30 per cent of its gold production.
World
Dutch prosecutors offer €2 million for capture of fugitive cocaine kingpin Bolle Jos
Mr Leijdekkers was sentenced in absentia to 24 years in prison by a Dutch court in 2025 for smuggling more than seven tonnes of cocaine.
Health
Kano traders arrested for altering expiry dates on milk
Mr Garba-Muhammad said sustained collaboration between the council and market associations is essential to protecting consumers.
