Britain returns US $1.8 million seized from former governor

Britain has returned the equivalent of US $1.8 million seized from a former Nigerian state governor, the first time it has returned funds illegally stashed away in a foreign account by a political office holder. The money, which was in several currencies when it was seized from the London home of former Bayelsa state governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, was returned to the Nigerian diplomatic mission in Britain on Thursday, said a statement by London Metropolitan Police. “We welcome the decision to return the money and the symbolic victory against corruption,” said Osita Nwaja, spokesman for Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Nigeria regularly ranks high on the annual global index of corruption published by the Berlin-based watchdog, Transparency International. Alamieyeseigha was arrested in London last September and charged with money laundering. While out of prison on bail he escaped and returned to Nigeria where he enjoyed immunity as a state governor. He was subsequently voted out of office by his state legislature and detained by Nigeria’s EFCC on corruption charges Another Nigerian state governor, Joshua Dariye, also has money-laundering charges to face in London. The Plateau governor was arrested in 2004 and later granted bail that allowed him to travel to Nigeria. Dariye subsequently failed to show up for appointments with the Metropolitan Police. President Olusegun Obasanjo, who set up the EFCC, has backed moves to prosecute Alamieyeseigha and Dariye, both members of the ruling People’s Democratic Party. Despite earning huge oil revenues as a major exporter, more than 70 percent of Nigeria’s population live on less than US $1 a day, with human development indicators among the poorest on the continent. The situation has been blamed largely on the corruption of public officials. More than US $1 billion in public funds stashed away in Switzerland by a former Nigerian military ruler, late Gen. Sani Abacha, have been recovered under Obasanjo. dm/cs/ccr