U.S to help Nigeria recover ‘ill-gotten wealth’

The United States government has agreed to assist Nigeria recover all identified “ill-gotten wealth” in countries in which they have jurisdiction, including the U.S itself.

A statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s media aide, Garba Shehu, said America will also offer training to judicial staff and prosecutors “in order to place Nigeria in a good position to uncover proceeds of corruption and for improved prosecution of cases of crime.”

According to the statement, details emerging from Monday’s meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and the U.S Attorney-General, Loretta Lynch, on the subject of support for the war on corruption in Nigeria indicated that the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty signed between the two countries in 1985 and which came into effect in 2003 will be given “some teeth.”

The statement said:

“There will be collaboration. Each of the two countries will receive legal assistance from the other on criminal matters and that should cover the recovery of ill-gotten wealth. On extradition, we already have a treaty with U.S.  By virtue of being a former British colonial territory.

“There is however the possibility that Nigeria might negotiate a new extradition treaty to meet our other requirements. The negotiation will be done under the auspices of a’re-energized’ U.S-Nigeria Bi-National Commission.”