The federal government says it is yet to retrieve the $15m
arms funds the South African government seized from the administration
of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan due to “multiplicity of diplomatic
engagement”.
On September 5, South African authorities seized $9.3m cash belonging to the Nigerian government before seizing another $5.7m about one month later, claiming both funds were intended for the illegal purchase of arms.
Speaking
at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Abubakar Malami, minister of
justice and attorney-general of the federation (AGF), said diplomatic
intricacies and the long process involved has been a major cause of
delay in retrieving the fund.
He said such hitches also account
for why the government was yet to record much success in efforts aimed
at repatriating looted funds.
“As it relates to the money in South
Africa and other countries, my reaction to recovery generally is that
it is a process; a process involving mostly nations whose legal systems
differ,” he said.
“The process in respect of diplomatic
consideration equally plays a key role over and above international
convention and best practices.
“So, when multiplicity of legal
systems is in issue, multiplicity of diplomatic engagement is in
contention, delay is naturally bound to set in.
“But, one thing I
want to state categorically is that the government is doing whatever is
possible to ensure the recovery of monies that relate to Nigeria in all
jurisdictions and not necessarily limited to South Africa.”
Malami’s claims notwithstanding, the South African government had confirmed at that time that Nigeria had received the seized funds.
Although
the purported arms deal that led to the seizure was speculated to be
illegal, Sambo Dasuki, then national security adviser, maintained that thye transactions were legal.
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