The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged the United States President-elect, Donald Trump, to identify US-based proceeds of corruption traced to former and current Nigerian public officials and the return of such to Nigeria.
SERAP urged Trump to “direct the US Department of Justice to promptly initiate civil asset forfeiture proceedings against proceeds of corruption traced to former and current Nigerian public officials and their associates so as to fulfill several non-controversial commitments by the US to assist Nigeria in asset recovery matters.”
SERAP also urged him “to identify and publish the names of former and current Nigerian public officials suspected to be responsible for corruption and the depositing of its proceeds in US banks, and to apply existing US presidential proclamations to temporarily ban such officials from entering the US.”
In a letter on Saturday, signed by SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke’s looted assets and other recently returned assets were only a tiny fraction of the “over $500bn” that has been reportedly stolen from Nigeria and located in the US.
The request followed the recently returned $52.88 million in forfeited corruption proceeds linked to the former Petroleum Resources Minister.
SERAP said, “Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the United Nations Convention against Corruption to which both the US and Nigeria are state parties.
“Proceeds of corruption from Nigeria continue to be deposited in US banks or in other locations subject to US jurisdictions.
“We hope you and your incoming government address the legal impediments that have continued to allow corrupt Nigerian government officials to deposit and conceal their ill-gotten assets in the US and other locations subject to US jurisdiction.
“Returning proceeds of corruption to Nigeria is a development imperative. By returning proceeds of corruption to Nigeria, the US would be contributing to the efforts to address the growing poverty in the country and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.”
SERAP noted that the US had the obligations under the relevant provisions of the UN Convention against Corruption to trace, freeze and seize proceeds of corruption from Nigeria located in the US or otherwise subject to US jurisdiction and to return the assets to the Nigerian people.
“SERAP is concerned that corruption remains a major obstacle to sustainable development, the rule of law and the effective enjoyment of socio-economic rights in Nigeria. Implementing the recommended measures would contribute to addressing these governance challenges,” it added.
By Gbenga Oloniniran @ThePUNCH
