UK to return millions of pounds recovered from corrupt officials back to Nigeria
More than £4 million in stolen funds recovered from corrupt officials is being returned to Nigeria under a landmark agreement with the UK Government.
It is the first time that money recovered from criminals will be returned to Nigeria since a Memorandum of Understanding to ‘recover and return the proceeds of bribery or corruption’ was signed by the two countries in 2016.
The £4.2 million – stolen by the former Governor of Nigeria’s Delta State, James Ibori, and his associates – was retrieved through multi-agency operations led by the Metropolitan Police Service and the National Crime Agency.
They worked with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and the Home Office to identify and recover assets bought in the UK with the illicit funds.
In February 2012, Ibori pleaded guilty in a UK court to money laundering, conspiracy to defraud and forgery, and was sentenced to a total of 13 years in prison.
Home Office Minister Baroness Williams said: “This is a significant moment in our fight against illicit finance wherever it is found.
“Recovering the proceeds of crime is a critical part of our fight against serious crime and this sends a clear message to criminals that we will relentlessly pursue them, their assets and their money.”
She said the UK continues to be a driving force in bringing countries together to tackle serious and organised crime. Between 2019/20 the UK recovered just under £208 million from the proceeds of crime, an increase of almost ten per cent compared with 2014/15. Of this, £139 million was collected through confiscation orders.
Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Proceeds of Crime, Adrian Foster, said: “Corruption anywhere is corrosive and has a drastic impact on the lives of the people where money is embezzled from. Where there is international corruption carried out from England and Wales, we will robustly prosecute and deprive individuals of their ill-gotten gains.
“Thanks to diligent and complex work of our prosecutors, £4.2 million is being returned to the people of Nigeria and will go towards projects which will massively benefit the country.
“This forms part of the CPS’s ongoing asset recovery work.”
Minister for Africa James Duddridge said it was “fantastic to hear £4.2 million of stolen assets will be returned to Nigeria”, adding: “We are committed to rooting out corruption around the world and ensuring justice is served for those affected.”
Under the agreement, the Nigerian government has pledged to use the returned funds for projects that will “benefit and improve the country”.
UK Minister for Africa James Duddridge said: “When money is stolen from public funds it hits the poorest communities the hardest and means money can’t be spent where it’s most needed.
“The UK’s work on this case to recover millions of pounds will support vital infrastructure and building works. The UK and Nigeria will continue to work together to tackle crime and corruption across our nations.”