In 2018, former finance minister Kemi Adeosun declined a request from the ministry of justice to approve a $16.9 million payment to lawyers Oladipo Okpeseyi and Temitope Isaac Adebayo, who had been hired by then attorney-general Abubakar Malami for the repatriation of $321 million Abacha loot even though the recovery process was already near completion.
The decision followed earlier revelations that the foreign lawyers originally engaged by the federal government had already been fully paid, with Enrico Monfrini insisting he had “completed the task” and denying claims that he demanded additional fees. Despite the objections and Adeosun’s refusal, the controversial fees were eventually paid, adding to longstanding concerns over Malami’s involvement in the repatriation process.