The Nigerian government says it will finance its rural electrification and renewable energy projects with the $52.88 million seized assets that will be returned to the country. This comes after the United States reached an agreement for the return of $52.88 million in assets seized from former Nigerian Petroleum Minister Dizani Alison Madueke and her associates.
Nigerian Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi said the agreement with the United States “will return approximately $52.88 million in assets seized from Galaxy assets linked to former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke and her associates.”
Also, Fagbemi said the funds would be used to support rural electrification through the World Bank, while $50 million would be used to increase the use of renewable energy.
He said the remaining $2.88 million would be transferred by Nigeria to the International Criminal Court to strengthen counter-terrorism capacity across Africa.
Alison-Madueke’s whereabouts are unknown but she was last understood to be in the UK and has previously denied allegations of corruption against her. She served as a minister in President Goodluck Jonathan’s government from 2010 to May 2015.
The indictment alleges that the two Nigerian businessmen conspired with others to bribe Alison Madueke, a director of state oil company NNPC Limited.
The agreement follows a lawsuit filed by the US Department of Justice in 2017 seeking the recovery of approximately $144 million in assets allegedly obtained through bribery on behalf of the former government.
In October 2022, a Nigerian court issued a final order seizing two properties and a car belonging to Alison-Madueke.
