They particularly warned the government against any attempt to use the $322 Abacha loot recovered from Switzerland to fund the next year general elections.
The Civil Society Organizations spoke during their various contributions at a one-day Citizens’ Dialogue on post-GFAR (Global Forum on Asset Recovery) roadmap and asset recovery regime in Nigeria, organized by Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) in Abuja.
Executive Director of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Mr David Ugolor, said the CSOs must strengthen and enhance transparency and accountability in asset recovery and utilisation.
He noted that even though asset recovery in Nigeria is weak because of lack of enabling legislation, there has been reasonable progress in certain areas such as continuing repatriation of Abacha loot from Switzerland and other jurisdictions.
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Ugolor said: “There have also been less praiseworthy experiences like the uncountable utilisation of some of such repatriated funds, such as witnessed in the events leading up to the last general elections in the country.
“Overall, there was an obvious need for the establishment of institutions and mechanism both at the international and national levels that would enhance transparency and accountability in efforts to recover looted funds and ensuring that such funds are utilised in a judicious manner that benefits the ultimate victims of corruption,” he said.
He, however, lauded the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for providing the opportunity for civic engagement through the Open Government Partnership (OGP), and the inclusion of civil society in the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Switzerland and Nigeria Government in the repatriation of the $322.5 million.
Meanwhile, Mrs Ladidi Mohammed, Director of Asset Recovery and Management Unit, Federal Ministry of Justice, in her presentation at the event, said the government has put all necessary mechanism in place to prevent re-looting of the recovered asset.
She said apart from $322.5 million, which is to be used to implement the Federal government Cash Transfer Programme under its Social Investment Programme, in line with the MoU signed with the Swiss Government, all other funds recovered both locally and internationally are deposited in an asset recovery account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to used for the good of Nigeria.
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