ANEEJ Thanks USA, Others Over Returned Abacha Fund

By David Ugolor

Tackling the challenges of asset recovery continues to receive global attention with the increasing volume of illicit financial flows from poor Countries, particularly the Sub-Saharan African Countries and other GFAR Countries.

Mr. President: Let me stand on existing protocols, my name is Reverend David Ugolor, the Executive Director, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), an NGO working on anti-corruption and governance issues based in Nigeria and a member of the UNCACCOALITION.

Death Toll Rises To 11000 In Turkey, Syria Earthquake Strike

Old Naira Notes Can Still Be Use After Feb 10 Deadline, Supreme Court Rules

ICPC Arrests Sterling Bank Managers For Hoarding N258m Redesigned Naira Notes

New Born With Umbilical Cord Still On Her Dead Mother Found Under Rubble In Earthquake Hit Syrian Town

Ifeanyi Uba Donates Security Gadgets, Personnel To Anambra Govt

Why APC Cancels Road Show In Katsina – Presidency

DSS Wants To Humiliate CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele Out Of Office – IPOB

EFCC Invades Bank, Arrests Manager For Hiding Redesigned Naira Notes

Tems Wins Grammy Award

Police Arrests Suspected Bandits Informant, Food Supplier In Niger

I am happy to be part of this historic follow up intersession meeting which will help reinforce the global commitment to step up the fight against corruption.

We congratulate the member states for reinstating their commitment to work together to firm up global cooperation to end impunity of corruption practices through strengthening the preventive measures and the criminalization / law enforcement approach.

However, as we are faced with the problems, we can see some good practices emerging in the asset recovery process: Just few weeks ago, the United States returned $23 million back to Nigeria through a historic agreement that sends a strong message that the return should benefit the victims which are Nigeria people.

The same agreement (yet to be published by both parties) also mentioned that the total 100% should be use for infrastructural projects which stand differently from others.

We commend the US Government for rising to the challenges of asset recovery and we urge the US Government to remain firm on ensuring the agreement is published.

It is also important to mention that the Swiss and UK Governments support to civil society for monitoring of the returned Abacha ll $3225.5 million is laudable as we begin to promote good practices.

The participation of civil society in the agreement and subsequent monitoring of the fund provided a framework for civic engagement and more transparency.

The Monitoring of Recovered Asset through Transparency and Accountability (MANTRA) Programme was able to assemble over 200 civil society groups to monitor the disbursement of the recovered assets to millions of poor Nigerians.

@views exclusive rights: David Ugolor, Executive Director, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice ANEEJ, being speech made at UNCACCOALITION INTERVENTION INTERSESSION MEETING OF COSP UNCAC ON THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE POLITICAL DECLARATION on Corruption in Vienna, Austria, September 7, 2022.