The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International Nigeria (TI Nigeria) have commended the United Kingdom government for its role in combating corruption and illicit financial flows following the recovery of $9.5 million in stolen Nigerian assets.
Executive Director of CISLAC and Head of Transparency International Nigeria, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, on Saturday in a statement described the recovery as a positive demonstration of international cooperation consistent with Nigeria’s Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), 2022.
TheTimes reports that Authorities in Jersey agreed to repatriate over $9.5 million (£7 million) linked to corrupt practices to the Nigerian government, marking another step in Nigeria’s long-running effort to recover looted assets from the military era.
The funds are believed to have been stolen by the late former military ruler, Sani Abacha, who governed Nigeria from 1993 to 1998.
Although the money was recovered during ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, legal proceedings delayed its return for several years.
According to CISLAC and TI Nigeria, POCA provides Nigeria with a comprehensive legal framework for tracing, freezing, confiscating, managing, and recovering proceeds of crime, both within the country and from foreign jurisdictions.
Rafsanjani noted that the law remains Nigeria’s principal instrument for ensuring that criminals do not benefit from corruption or other financial crimes, particularly funds looted and concealed abroad.
The organisations said that the latest recovery underscores the importance of mutual legal assistance and cross-border collaboration, which are central objectives of POCA, describing such cooperation as critical to strengthening Nigeria’s asset recovery efforts and deterring illicit financial flows.
While welcoming the return of the stolen funds, CISLAC and TI Nigeria expressed concern over the utilisation and management of recovered assets.
The statement noted that despite significant asset recoveries over the past decade, Nigerians continue to experience limited access to information on how recovered funds are deployed.
“Citizens remain dissatisfied with the level of transparency surrounding recovered assets. Civil society groups have developed accountability frameworks aligned with POCA to prevent re-looting and ensure recovered funds are used for the public good.
“We must focus not only on recovering looted funds but on blocking lapses that allow theft in the first place. Nigeria must take illicit financial flows seriously. With estimated annual losses of $18 billion, the country cannot rely on recovery efforts alone.
“Financial institutions and systems must be thoroughly sanitised to prevent looters and ensure that taxpayers’ money does not exit the country illegally. Nigeria accounts for a large percentage of illicit financial flows in Africa, and allowing this situation to continue directly contributes to poverty and deficits in infrastructure development,” Rafsanjani said.
The statement further noted that these systemic vulnerabilities have global consequences. Nigerians often face suspicion and discrimination abroad because their information, certifications, and data are routinely questioned, reflecting the lack of credibility caused by domestic financial mismanagement.
He said, ” Strengthening accountability, transparency, and enforcement would protect national wealth, restore international confidence, and reduce the negative perception of Nigerian citizens globally.
“Key accountability measures required to guarantee transparency include independent monitoring and oversight of recovered assets, public disclosure of Memoranda of Understanding guiding asset repatriation, and clear information on where and how recovered funds will be spent.
“Public reporting, regular auditing, and strict sanctions against any individuals involved in the re-looting of recovered proceeds of crime, as provided under POCA, are essential.”
CISLAC and TI Nigeria emphasised that recovered assets should be lodged in dedicated accounts to enable proper tracking and accountability.
He noted that once recovered funds are paid into the general government account, transparency becomes difficult, and the process risks being absorbed into routine government spending without adequate oversight.
The organisations welcomed the latest recovery and urged the Nigerian government to fully implement the Proceeds of Crime Act and honour its commitments under the Global Forum on Asset Recovery, where Nigeria pledged to ensure that recovered assets are managed transparently and used to improve citizens’ welfare.
The statement also called for independent oversight by the National Assembly to ensure that recovered funds are effectively traced, tracked, and measured in line with POCA’s objectives.
It noted that accountability becomes nearly impossible when recovered assets are merged into regular government expenditure without clear reporting mechanisms.
CISLAC and TI Nigeria highlighted ongoing challenges faced by civil society organisations, particularly limited access to timely and accurate information on recovered assets.
The groups urged the government to improve transparency by providing clearer and more consistent data, noting that openness would also help counter misinformation, rumours, and fake news.
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