BEVERLY HILLS, December 09, (THEWILL) – The Chairman of the Civil Society Network Against Corruption, CSNAC, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraj, has claimed that the Federal Government has agreed to pay the Government of Switzerland $79m (N25.2bn) as part of conditions for the repatriation of almost $400m (N128bn) recovered from the family of the late military ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha.
He stated this on Friday while featuring as a member of a panel of discussants at a seminar organised to commemorate the 2016 International Anti-Corruption Day in Abuja.
The programme was jointly organised by Nigerian anti-corruption agencies, the European Union, EU, the United States and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, and was attended by senior diplomats and politicians.
Recall that the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Eric Mayoraz, had stated in July that his country would return $321m out of the Abacha loot to Nigeria. But Suraj insisted that the original figure that was meant to be returned to Nigeria was about $400m.
Alleging that the Nigerian Government had secretly agreed to forfeit $79m as part of negotiations, Suraj declared that this was disgraceful as the Swiss Government was meant to pay Nigeria an interest instead of dictating the terms of agreement.
“Unfortunately, the government goes to beg countries to get our money back rather than making demands, we appeal for the money and beg them to return it. We are fed with half information such that we even assume that we actually recover the amount stolen.
“I had a very funny experience and it is still ongoing. The $321m that the Swiss Government is meant to return to Nigeria, we discovered three weeks ago that the original money was about $400m. The legal process in Switzerland actually charged the Nigerian Government about $79m and that is why we are receiving $321m.
“The $321m is now to be returned to Nigeria with the condition that the World Bank will monitor how the funds will be spent. I cannot imagine anything more insulting,” the CSNAC Chairman said.
About the Author
