By Peter Omopo
The Bailiwick of Jersey and the Federal Government of Nigeria have finalised arrangements for the return of more than $9.5 million recovered from the proceeds of corruption, with the funds earmarked for the Abuja–Kano Road project.
The agreement was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in December 2025 by Jersey’s Attorney General, Mark Temple KC, authorising the transfer of the recovered assets to Nigeria for use on the federal highway project.
The repatriation follows a civil forfeiture process initiated by Jersey authorities after investigations revealed suspicious funds held in a local bank account. On November 29, 2023, Jersey’s Attorney General applied to the Royal Court under the Forfeiture of Assets (Civil Proceedings) (Jersey) Law 2018, seeking confiscation of the assets.
On January 12, 2024, the Royal Court granted the forfeiture request, ruling that the funds were, on the balance of probabilities, proceeds of corruption arising from the diversion of public resources by contractors acting for the benefit of senior Nigerian officials and their associates.
The latest agreement builds on a long-standing partnership between Jersey and Nigeria on asset recovery. Under two previous MoUs, more than $300 million had already been repatriated to Nigeria to fund major infrastructure projects, including the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, the Second Niger Bridge, and portions of the Abuja–Kano Road.
While the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway and the Second Niger Bridge have since been completed, the newly returned funds are expected to support the final phase of construction on the 375-kilometre Abuja–Kano Road, which links the federal capital, Abuja, to Kano.
Commenting on the development, Jersey’s Attorney General, Mark Temple KC, said the successful repatriation demonstrated the effectiveness of the island’s legal framework in combating corruption.
“This successful return demonstrates the strength of our civil forfeiture legislation as a powerful tool in the fight against corruption,” Temple said. He also commended Nigerian authorities for their cooperation and praised the Economic Crime and Confiscation Unit of his department for its role in recovering the assets.
Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), described the recovery as evidence of Nigeria’s commitment to international cooperation in the fight against corruption.
“The successful recovery and repatriation of the forfeited assets underscore the effectiveness of Nigeria’s collaborative efforts with its international partners in ensuring that there is no safe haven for illicitly acquired wealth moved to foreign jurisdictions,” Fagbemi said.
He further assured Jersey that the funds would be used strictly in line with the terms of the MoU, pledging that the repatriated assets would be judiciously applied to the designated road project.
