The intention of Switzerland to repatriate funds looted by the late Gen Sani Abacha may be heading for some controversy as senior lawyer, Mr Femi Falana has urged Nigeria to reject conditions attached to the return of Abacha’s loot.
Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, urged the federal government to turn down attempts by the World Bank and other international bodies to disrespect Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Channels Television reports that Switzerland had stated that it needed the World Bank to supervise the spending of the $321 million to be returned to Nigeria.
Falana in his letter however described the condition of the World Bank’s involvement in a supervisory role being the condition attached by the Swiss government for the return of Abacha’s loot as an insult to Nigeria.
The highly respected lawyer recalled the disclosure by Swiss Ambassador, Mr Eric Mayoraz, that the government of Switzerland has already requested the World Bank to supervise the spending of the returned loot, and condemned same.
Falana said: “We believe that the conditionality imposed on Nigeria, which allows the World Bank to supervise the spending of returned assets by the Nigerian government breaches international law principles and standards.”
The Lagos-based lawyer also accused the World Bank of not demonstrating sufficient level of transparency and accountability in its supervision of spending of previously returned Abacha loot.
He added that, should the Swiss government refuse to return the money without any conditionality, the federal government should initiate legal proceedings for the recovery of the funds.
The promises and processes for the return of Abacha’s loot appear to have become long-drawn, having constantly been in the news for over a year without actual repatriation of the funds. Nigeria is however presently experiencing a recession and needs all the money it can get.
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