The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has ordered the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to disclose in details how about USD$5 billion Abacha loot signed on same by the government of Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Mohammadu Buhari was spent.
The Justice, James Omotosho gave the order last week while delivering judgment on a Freedom of Information suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/407/2020, filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP.
The statement by SERAP on Sunday, 9th July, noted that the court ordered the government of President Bola Tinubu to “disclose the exact amount of money stolen by General Sani Abacha from Nigeria, and the total amount of Abacha loot recovered and all agreements signed on same by the governments of former presidents Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan and Buhari.”
The Judge dismissed all the objections raised by the Federal Government and upheld SERAP’s arguments, and also urged the Federal Government through the Ministry of Finance to furnish SERAP with the full spending details of about $5bn Abacha loot within 7 days of the judgment.
Justice Omotosho also ordered the government to “disclose details of the projects executed with the Abacha loot, locations of any such projects and the names of companies and contractors that carried or carrying out the projects since the return of democracy in 1999 till date.”
“Disclose details of specific roles played by the World Bank and other partners in the execution of any projects funded with Abacha loot under the governments of former presidents Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan and Buhari.”
Following this, SERAP in a letter dated 8th July, 2023 directed to President Tinubu, urged the “Ministry of Finance and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation to immediately compile and release the spending details of recovered Abacha loot as ordered by the court.”
They also noted that if the president complies to the Judgement immediately, it will be a victory for the rule of law.
“The immediate enforcement and implementation of the judgment by your government will be a victory for the rule of law, transparency and accountability in the governance processes and management of public resources including the $5bn Abacha loot.”
