No record of 5b abacha loot expenditure government tells serap

A very timely and relevant topic!

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has been pushing for transparency and accountability in the management of recovered looted funds, including the infamous Abacha loot. Recently, SERAP sent a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Nigerian government, seeking information on the expenditure of the $5 billion Abacha loot recovered by the Swiss government and returned to Nigeria in 2018.

However, in response to SERAP's request, the Nigerian government has reportedly told the organization that there is no record of the expenditure of the $5 billion Abacha loot. This is despite the fact that the government had previously claimed that the funds would be used to improve the country's infrastructure, healthcare, and education sectors.

SERAP has expressed disappointment and concern over the government's response, stating that it is unacceptable for the government to claim that there is no record of the expenditure of the funds when the government had previously made public commitments to use the funds for specific purposes.

The Abacha loot is a significant issue in Nigeria, as it represents a substantial amount of money that was stolen by the late military dictator, Sani Abacha, during his rule from 1993 to 1998. The loot has been the subject of several investigations and lawsuits over the years, and its recovery has been a major achievement for the Nigerian government.

However, the lack of transparency and accountability in the management of the loot has raised concerns about its use and the impact it has had on the country's development. SERAP's FOI request and the government's response highlight the need for greater transparency and accountability in the management of public funds in Nigeria.

In response to the government's response, SERAP has called on the government to provide a detailed breakdown of how the $5 billion Abacha loot was spent, and to ensure that any future recoveries of looted funds are transparently managed and accounted for.