Abacha Loot: FG says no third party agreement

The Federal Government says it has not entered into any agreement to concede any amount of money to any individual in relation to over 300 million dollars to be repatriated back to Nigeria from the Island of  Jersey.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, AbubakarMalami made the clarification on Wednesday in a statement by Dr Umar Gwandu, his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations.
He said that the federal government is exclusively bound by the tripartite agreement entered into and signed by it,  United States of America and the Island of Jersey for the repatriation of the funds referred to as Abacha III.
He added that no individual was named to be a beneficiary of anyamount in the tripartite agreement.
Malami said the international community have developed confidence in the present administration in view of the fact that looted funds recovered before now, were judiciously utilised for high impact, public oriented projects.
He said that in the document of the agreement, it was clearly spelt outthat the monies will be utilised in the Abuja – Kano and Lagos – IbadanExpressways as well as the 2nd Niger Bridge only.
 “Hence, insinuationof a third-party beneficiary outside the scope of the agreement, is therefore baseless and unfounded”.
The Minister said Nigeria has no reputational issues over enforcementof agreements and treaties.
 ” It is, therefore, an impossibility, andunimaginable, for Nigeria to hand over some amount of money to a thirdparty not expressly mentioned in the agreement after the three countries concerned signed an agreement on what to do with the repatriated funds.
He noted that people are mischievously peddling contaminated information out of ignorance, political blackmail, selfish interest, or mischievous intentions.
“The funds in contention are not in any way connected with assets exempted by former PresidentObasanjo pursuant to an August 18, 2003 agreement.
 “The agreement resolved and released all claims and liabilities of any kind which exist or might exist against Atiku Bagudu in favour of or at the suit of any organ of government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
Atiku Bagudu’s  family’s contention which constitutes a judicial actionis borne out of Obasanjo’s concession and the claims arising therefrom is separate and distinct,” the Minister has said.