Nigeria is set to receive $9.5 million (£7 million) in recovered assets linked to former military Head of State, Sani Abacha, from the UK’s Crown Dependency of Jersey. According to BBC reports, the funds, described as proceeds of “tainted property,” were held in a Jersey bank account and delayed by court challenges despite being first recovered during Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. Jersey authorities made progress in December 2025 after Attorney-General Mark Temple signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Nigerian officials to enable repatriation.
The agreement follows two earlier arrangements between Nigeria and Jersey that saw more than $300 million (£230m) returned to the country. Abacha, who ruled from 1993 to 1998, was widely accused of stealing public funds, with many assets locked in foreign legal proceedings for years. The latest deal strengthens ongoing global asset recovery efforts by Nigeria, even as public reactions and political references to Abacha’s legacy continue to stir debate domestically.