The government of Jersey has approved the return of more than $9.5 million to Nigeria in assets linked to corruption, marking another milestone in the country’s ongoing efforts to recover looted public funds held abroad.
The sum, estimated at £7 million, is expected to be channelled into infrastructure development in Nigeria following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Attorney General of Jersey, Mark Temple KC, and the Federal Government of Nigeria in December.
The agreement builds on two earlier arrangements between both parties that led to the recovery of over $300 million previously traced to bank accounts in the Channel Island.
Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, said the repatriation highlights the growing success of international cooperation in the fight against corruption, stressing that illicit funds hidden overseas will no longer find protection in foreign jurisdictions.
He added that the recovered assets will be deployed strictly in accordance with the terms of the agreement, with priority given to the completion of the final phases of the Abuja–Lagos highway project.
On his part, Jersey’s Attorney General, Mark Temple, described the forfeiture and return of the funds as evidence of the effectiveness of the island’s civil asset recovery laws, which he said remain a vital instrument in combating financial crime and corruption.
A ruling by the Royal Court in 2024 had determined that the funds were most likely derived from corrupt arrangements involving third-party contractors who diverted government resources for the benefit of senior Nigerian officials and their associates.
Although the assets were originally recovered during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, their repatriation was delayed for years due to prolonged legal challenges.
