ABUJA – A detailed investigative report has chronicled the extensive efforts to uncover the details behind a contentious $16.9 million legal fee paid from the $321 million Abacha loot recovered from Switzerland.
According to the report by TheCable’s Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation (CNJF), former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, repeatedly frustrated attempts to obtain information. This occurred after Malami engaged two new Nigerian lawyers in 2016 to “recover” funds already secured by Swiss lawyer Enrico Monfrini years earlier.
The report states that despite Monfrini having completed the recovery by 2014, Malami hired lawyers Oladipo Okpeseyi, SAN, and Temitope Isaac Adebayo—both linked to the former ruling party—and sought approval to pay them $16.9 million. This move was described by a then-justice ministry official as “a case of re-looting Abacha loot.”
Journalists filed multiple Freedom of Information requests and even sued Malami’s office. However, the Ministry of Justice failed to respond, and a 2019 court case was dismissed on a technicality regarding the foundation’s registration documents, not the request’s merits.
The report highlights a pattern of obstructing transparency, with Malami allegedly using legal delays and non-responses to stall legislative and media scrutiny into the payment, which lawmakers had previously called “the height of injustice.”
Disclaimer: This article is based on an investigative report and allegations concerning past events. The individuals mentioned may have different perspectives on the events described. The legal matters referenced may be subject to ongoing or future investigation.
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