France To Return $150m Abacha Loot To Nigeria

French government has announced its decision to return $150 million looted by former Nigerian military leader, General Sani Abacha.

Gatekeepers News reports that the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement on Friday said President Bola Tinubu commended the European country for the decision.

Tinubu, while receiving the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Catherine Colonna applauded the strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and France.

This development followed the Nigerian President’s visit to Paris after his inauguration.

Tinubu was quoted as saying, “Thank you for the good news on the return of Abacha loot. We appreciate your effective cooperation concerning the return of Nigeria’s money. It will be judiciously applied in attaining our development objectives.”

The President, while emphasising the need to reinforce collaboration on both political and economic fronts, welcomed the growing cooperation between the two countries in areas of shared interest, such as climate change, economic integration, education, and culture.

He further acknowledged the signing of a €100 million agreement between Nigeria and France to support the i-DICE programme — a Federal Government initiative to promote investment in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Creative Arts Industries.

The agreement was signed by the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Technology, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, and the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs at an earlier event at Tafawa Balewa House, the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The French minister in her remarks, conveyed the goodwill of President Emmanuel Macron and expressed France’s readiness to expand mutually beneficial collaboration with Nigeria across multiple sectors.

Colonna proceeded to extend a formal invitation to President Bola Tinubu to attend the forthcoming Paris Peace Forum.

The French Presidential Envoy, while speaking on the Abacha loot said the repatriation followed the completion of legal processes.

She said, “It was a long process, but we are glad that it was concluded. Sometimes, justice may be slow, but this is a very good achievement.”

Colonna also commended President Tinubu’s leadership in handling the affairs of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), saying, “We support your efforts at ECOWAS. We are behind you because we believe that constitutional order is a treasure for all countries, and democracy must be a reality.”