The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has dismissed reports that the United States’ is against an alleged plan by the President Muhammadu Buhari government to hand $100million to Kebbi Governor, Atiku Bagudu.
Igbere TV reports that the $100million was part of the funds recovered from the late Gen. Sani Abacha’s loot.
Recall that the U.S. government had called on Nigerians to help recover alleged stolen funds traced to the Kebbi State governor.
Igbere TV reports that there has been a commitment by Nigeria to transfer the funds to the governor, whom the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) says was involved in corruption with Abacha.
The Federal Government of Nigeria and the United State Government had recently agreed on the repatriation of over $308million to the African nation.
The Department of Justice believes the Federal Government of Nigeria is blocking its efforts to recover allegedly laundered money traced to Atiku Bagudu.
DOJ in a statement released on February 3, noted that Bagudu was part of Abacha network that “embezzled, misappropriated and extorted billions from the government of Nigeria.”
Reacting in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Relations, Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, Abubakar Malami described reports of the US opposition as false.
“The story regarding paying a Governor a certain amount of the repatriated Abacha loot is unfounded and baseless.
“It is only a fiction and figment of the imagination of mischief makers who are bent on destroying the good efforts of the Federal Government.
“The report should be disregarded by any sensible and well-meaning persons”, Gwandu said in a statement Friday night.
