In a significant victory for Nigeria's anti-corruption efforts, the Federal Government has secured the return of more than $9.5 million in looted funds from the Bailiwick of Jersey. The agreement, formalized in December 2025, marks another successful collaboration in the global fight to recover illicit assets and channel them back into national development.
The Legal Path to Recovery
The process to reclaim these funds began when the Jersey Attorney General, Mark Temple KC, approached the Royal Court of Jersey on 29 November 2023. The application was made under the island's Forfeiture of Assets (Civil Proceedings) (Jersey) Law 2018. After reviewing the evidence, the court issued a forfeiture order on 12 January 2024, concluding that the money was "more likely than not the proceeds of a corrupt scheme."
The court found that government funds from Nigeria had been diverted by contractors for the benefit of senior public officials and their associates. This legal forfeiture paved the way for the negotiation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two governments to facilitate the funds' return.
Building on Past Success for Future Projects
This repatriation is not the first of its kind between Nigeria and Jersey. Previous agreements have led to the return of over $300 million to Nigeria. Those recovered funds were strategically deployed to finance critical national infrastructure, including:
- The completed Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
- The completed Second Niger Bridge.
- The ongoing Abuja-Kano Road.
The newly returned $9.5 million is earmarked specifically for the final stages of the 375-kilometre Abuja–Kano Road, a major artery connecting the capital city to the commercial hub of Kano. This ensures the looted wealth is directly reinvested into a project that benefits the Nigerian people.
Commitment to International Cooperation
Officials from both jurisdictions hailed the recovery as a testament to effective international partnership. Jersey's Attorney General, Mark Temple KC, stated, "This successful return demonstrates the strength of our civil forfeiture legislation as a powerful tool in the fight against corruption." He commended the Nigerian authorities for their cooperation and his department's Economic Crime and Confiscation Unit for their dedication.
On the Nigerian side, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, emphasized the broader message of the achievement. "The successful recovery and repatriation of the forfeited assets ensures that there is no safe haven for illicitly acquired wealth or assets moved to foreign jurisdictions," he said.
Fagbemi extended gratitude to the government of Jersey for its support and provided assurances regarding the use of the funds: "The repatriated assets will be judiciously utilized in line with the terms of the executed Memorandum of Understanding." This commitment is crucial for maintaining transparency and public trust in the asset recovery process.
