An anti-corruption watchdog, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, (ANEEJ), has expressed concern over the stoppage of cash disbursement to Nigerians from the repatriated $322.5 million Abacha loot from Switzerland.
The ANEEJ Executive Director, and Convener of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) monitoring the disbursement of the returned asset, Rev. David Ugolor, made the assertion in an issued statement, where he pointed out that the disbursement stopped since June 2021.
He called on President Buhari to remember the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) the Federal Government and Switzerland Government signed at the maiden edition of the Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) Summit, which was held in Washington DC., USA, in 2017.
He also mentioned the World Bank witnessed the process, which he called on the Attorney-General of the Federation, (AGF), and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to move together with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development for holistic implementation of the MoU, in order to conclude transparently on the cash transfer disbursement as it was at the beginning whereby its success story was celebrated globally.
However, he (Ugolor) recalled that payment made from the $322.5 million reached 76 percent between September 2020 and June 2021, no payment was made to the poor beneficiaries ostensibly, which according to him was due to a change of leadership at the National Cash Transfer Office and system strengthening process, but wondered halt in payment till now.
He also disclosed that the monitors established indicated that as of May/June 2021 a total number of 1, 632, 206 beneficiaries in 33 States, excluding Edo, Enugu, Ondo and Kebbi were on the payment schedule list. A total of 812, 721 households were paid, while total unpaid households stood at 819, 485.
According to him, the total amount paid so far is N8.53 billion representing 76% of the returned loot while the balance yet to be disbursed is put at N2.33 billion.
The Abacha loot disbursement is projected to achieve optimal disbursement by May/June 2022 payment cycle; however, ANEEJ fears that this target will be missed if payments do not continue.
