Nearly $53 million in alleged illicit funds linked to former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke and others has been returned to Nigeria. The funds, repatriated from the United States, will support public services, including rural electrification projects and anti-corruption initiatives.
Alison-Madueke, a prominent figure in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the first female president of OPEC, served as Nigeria’s petroleum minister from 2010 to 2015. She has consistently denied allegations of corruption. US authorities claim the funds were used to purchase luxury assets, including a superyacht and high-end properties.
The Nigerian Attorney-General, Lateef Fagbemi, emphasized the importance of combating corruption during the signing ceremony in Abuja. The majority of the funds, $50 million, will be allocated through the World Bank for infrastructure projects, while $2.88 million will strengthen the justice system.
US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, stressed the need for transparency in using the funds to improve Nigerians’ lives. This marks the latest in a series of asset recoveries from abroad, including funds tied to former military leader Gen Sani Abacha.
