From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Governance and Stability Lead, of the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in Nigeria, Mr. William Robinson, has submitted that asset recovery is central to national and global efforts to strengthen anti-corruption and effective recovery and return of the proceeds of crime are essential to securing justice.
He said this during the official launch of the policy brief on assessment of the implementation of Key Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) Principles in Asset Return and Management in Nigeria organized by Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice ANEEJ held in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to him,
putting stolen assets towards the delivery of public goods and services is the best way of ensuring anti-corruption efforts deliver for ordinary citizens.
Mr. Robinson added The UK and Nigeria have both made great strides in this area.
This, according to him, includes their respective Proceeds of Crime legislations and the active asset recovery efforts pursued by the law enforcement agencies.
The FCDO Country Director stressed that both countries recognize the importance of international collaboration on asset recovery and are both signatories to the GFAR.
The relationship, he explained, has led to the establishment of key global standards and cooperation instruments on asset recovery between the two countries.
“These measures lay important groundwork, but further efforts are needed to ensure asset recovery is efficient, accountable and well-coordinated.
“Asset recovery and return processes from financial centers, like the UK, have not progressed with the speed and transparency initially expected. Complex legal disputes and resourcing gaps in law enforcement agencies have contributed to this.
“This can often leave citizens and recipient countries lacking clarity on asset recovery processes.
“I understand our counterparts in Nigeria face similar challenges in their asset recovery regimes and in ensuring coherence and coordination between agencies.
“Through this project, we hope to make a small contribution to begin to address these issues by assessing how principles mutually agreed to under GFAR are being implemented in practice.
“Through this, we hope to generate stronger insights on the management of returned assets and measures to improve accountability in the asset recovery process.
“Furthermore, we hope this engagement will help reignite public engagement on this important issue at both national and international levels.”
In his welcome address, the Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, surmised that the publication is an outcome of a six-month research commissioned in October 2024, with support from FCDO.
The ANEEJ Executive Director disclosed that his organization is excited to contribute knowledge through the publication of this policy brief, which will influence advocacy priority for stakeholders working on illicit financial flow globally.
According to him, it was at the Global Forum on Asset Recovery that the agreement for the repatriation of $322.5 million recovered Abacha loot was signed.
“Since then, Nigeria has recovered stolen assets from various foreign jurisdictions, including the $311.8 million Abacha loot from the Bailiwick of Jersey in 2020, the 5.5 million Euro Abacha loot recovered from Northern Island in 2020, the $954,807.40 Alamieyesiegha loot recovered from the United States of America in 2023, and many others. ”
The Environment and Economic Justice Activist explained that the publication is a research that assesses the implementation of key GFAR principles in asset return and management in Nigeria.
He explained the the publication hinges on 10 Principles which include,: Principles 1: Partnership between transferring and receiving country,
Principles 2: Mutual interest, Principles 3:Early dialogue, principles:4 Transparency and Accountability,
Principles 5 Beneficiaries, Principles 6: Strengthening Corruption and Development
Other principles are 7: Case-specific Treatment Principles 8: Considering using an Agreement under UNCAC Articles Principles 9: Preclusion of benefits to offenders. Principles 10 Inclusion of Non-Government Stakeholders.
“ANEEJ worked with researchers and international experts to deliver on the task. In the course of the research work, we engaged key stakeholders, including international development partners, government institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), project beneficiaries, and the media, through consultative meetings, focused group discussion, key informant interviews, field visits, among other activities to gather data.” He said
In her remarks, the Head of the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms (TUGAR), Mrs. Jane Onwumere, said her organization is the secretariat of the IATT and also the Secretariat of the UNCAC Processes.
” As such, we were involved in the GFAR process from inception. It is my pleasure, therefore, to be here as we come together for the official launch of the policy brief.
Represented by Bosede Oguntuberu the Team lead of TUGAR, said the effort to return these assets is a commitment to justice, equity, and sustainable development by the Government of Nigeria.
” Through collaborative efforts and dedicated actions between state and non-state actors, we are making significant strides in demonstrating our collective commitment to the rule of law, good governance, and the responsible use of public resources.” She said
