Speaking in an interview with SaharaReporters on Monday, the professor of law said it undermines the sovereignty of Nigeria for the United States to give conditions on the use of the money by the Nigerian Government.

Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, Prof Itse Sagay (SAN), has reacted to the return of $300m looted by the late dictator, Sani Abacha.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, confirmed the return of the looted funds on Monday in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr Umar Gwandu.

Speaking in an interview with SaharaReporters on Monday, the professor of law said it undermines the sovereignty of Nigeria for the United States to give conditions on the use of the money by the Nigerian Government. Itse Sagay

The United States Government had told Nigeria to be ready to “replace” the $300m General Sani Abacha loot it returned to the country if the fund was misused. 

According to the U.S. Justice Department, the money must be used for the agreed public projects highlighted in the agreement signed with it before the fund was returned to Nigeria. SEE ALSOJUST IN: Nigerian Government Receives $311m Abacha Loot From United States7 Comments6 Hours Ago

Sagay further explained that although it was wrong to give conditions, the US resorted to that based on previous experience with returned loot which was stolen upon getting to Nigeria.

Reacting specifically as to whether it was wrong for the US to give conditions on how the money should be spent, Sagay said, “In principle, it is wrong for them (US) to do that, it undermines our sovereignty and I will almost say it’s an insult of some sort given the fact that it is our money, which was taken to their jurisdiction illegally.

“What they (US) are doing is based on experience. We have had a lot of loot; Abacha loot released in the past which was simply relooted by those in power. That happened a lot and the whole world knows that that is why they have been giving conditions. SEE ALSOBe Ready To “Replace” Returned $300m Abacha Loot If Misused, United States Tells Nigerian Government12 Comments5 Hours Ago

“You find that the social investment project was as a result of this type of situation, where the World Bank was supervising the project because that was the condition, on which whatever money that was released was released.

“In the past, those funds were ‘relooted’ by those in power. It’s a pity because those in power now are the very antithesis of those who were in power then but the international community is not aware of that and it is not prepared to countenance or appreciate that fact.

“I think as long as both parties agree and that is what the government wanted to use it for in the first place or it was not imposed on them, it’s okay.

“Whatever is agreed to, usually it would be a good thing, usually, it will be for the benefit of the most vulnerable at times, maybe infrastructural project. Whatever it is, let the Nigerian government truly apply it to it and then the country will be better for it.”

 

http://saharareporters.com/2020/05/04/it’s-insulting-united-states-give-conditions-how-nigeria-should-spend-abacha-loot-—sagay

It's a lot more insulting for a sitting Head of state to loot his country dry and siphon the loot to another man's country.

And if dey had insisted on not giving it back nko? Will u go and beat dem? Isnt it more insulting that 1 man stole dis country dry and 20yrs afta his death we are still discovering more? And it is even more insulting wen U realise dat d current President once said Abacha neva stole...

This loudmouthed foolish PAPAC advisory chair have shamelessly forgotten that his principal told a bewildered world that "Abacha never stole a dime"? So whose loots are you still repatriating? If the US coughs today you will catch cold.Bloody hypocrites!

If someone who is supposed to be an adult behaves like a small pikin. He will be given small pikin seat.

If you turn yourself into an slowpoke, you will get imbecilic treatment.

So, don't blame American government.

SLAP44:
It's a lot more insulting for a sitting Head of state to loot his country dry and siphon the loot to another man's country.

Tiri GBOSA ! Gbosa! Gbosa! For u.

You Just Relayed my Thoughts

It is even more insulting embarrassing when the money is spend without no record how it is spend!

sometimes I just can't help but wonder if buhari personally did brain surgery for all his followers and removed their brains.what is insulting about give a country as fanatically corrupt as Nigeria conditions.

Nigeria is the joke of the entire universe. Looting, poverty, terrorism, dead president all in one country.

If US doesn't ask for accountability over the funds, who will?

samincredible44:
sometimes I just can't help but wonder if buhari personally did brain surgery for all his followers and removed their brains.what is insulting about give a country as fanatically corrupt as Nigeria conditions.

The saddest thing is that under Buhari, corrupt officials are shamelessly fighting back any opposition and would defend every act of corruption with their blood.

at times, I don't see the difference between this man and muric man. they always say nonsense

I can feel your pain Mr Sagay, I'm sure you might have calculated how much that will get to you during the relooting before you realise that there was a condition attached to the money.
Thieves.

Trump always says things as is

You can't help but love him

Sagay will always open his mouth to say nonsense.

Mysticwebb:
I can feel your pain Mr Sagay, I'm sure you might have calculated how much that will get to you during the relooting before you realise that there was a condition attached to the money.Thieves.

How can you be Corruption and be fighting corruption?

oluwadabira111:
It is even more insulting embarrassing when the money is spend without no record how it is spend!

And to think that this is a government that was voted in to fight kworuption

Nogeria case is hopeless

I just wish the West would stop insulting us,we have kukuma pay $450million for tacoma airplane, money that would have been used to provide good drinking water for our rural dwellers.If he sent the money and they refuse would he send again.Anyway i saw Gen Abacha in my dream some months ago he was really smiling at me and i think he said he was like an uncle to me...so i am sorry i cannot yab him.To even think they sanction Nigerian during the period and they didn't sanction the money.As for Prof Sagay anyone that reloot the money Corona fall on him or her.Amen if you choose the car or the virus na you sabi.

Why won't they give you conditions? You guys are so corrupt that even Nigerians doubt your every move. Imagine people asking for videos of people in isolation as a proof that our government is honest--that goes to show the level of distrust in the system. Simply put: Even the children of our so-called politicians don't trust them.

The first one that was released to this administration, who looted them? Jonathan of course! and where was Mr integrity when the money were being looted? he is wasn't aware that such money was released in the first place by US, hope he is aware that US had release another set of Abasha's loot again? U.S don wise, they don't trust baba again, they know baba will loot this money too like the first one later he will then say it's only #5,000 that he have in his bank account, that he is staying in a rented house, Lielord I hail o!
This country still have a long way to go...

When you can't respect yourself nobody will respect you

I wanted to insult the old professor, until I calmed down to read the news content, and realised he was actually sane in his opinion.

No foreign government should trust the current crop of Nigerian leaders, for even if the head is not corrupt, the rest of the greedy gang are only waiting to devour.

What is sovereign about a nation where the citizenry are daily queued up at the embassy of other countries, and the successive government is perpetually begging for debt forgiveness while unable to fix refineries, provide constant power supply, or complete the steel milling plant in Ajaokuta for decades?

Oh foolish Africans.....you stole your country dry and put the stolen funds to another man's land ( economy) and you still give them condition ontop their money?
Why didn't the US reject the stolen funds when Abacha took the money to their country knowing fully well it was stolen money from Nigeria?

Prof Sagay should engage himself on something meaningful. Being a lackey to General Buhari is disappointing enough but to now be an ass licker is painful.

Heffalump:



The saddest thing is that under Buhari, corrupt officials are shamely fighting back any opposition and would defend every act of corruption with their blood.

so true.

Shatap there. Bunch of incompetent lots

Insulting too for you to share in a dead man largesse

Alaye,

Better tell your guys, embezzled and refund..

No time..

I've come to hate this loud mouth so much.

All he knows is how to condemn anything sensible and defend anything senseless from his Lord Buhari.

He has lost relevance forever

Abba kyari friend

Buhari thou shall not reloot your mentor's loot