US freezes $458 million stolen by centenary award winning dictator, Sani Abacha

In a seemingly unending chase, more public funds embezzled by the former Nigerian dictator, Sani Abacha, have been recovered by the United States government and frozen.

The US is said to have stated yesterday that it had discovered the funds which were stashed away by Abacha and his accomplices in European accounts.

The assets believed to amount to a whopping $458 million were hidden in banks in Britain, France and Jersey, the US Justice Department revealed.

The proceeds of Abacha’s infamous money laundering schemes were frozen at the request of the US government with the aid of local authorities.

Acting assistant attorney general in Washington, Mythili Raman, said:

“This is the largest civil forfeiture action to recover the proceeds of foreign official corruption ever brought by the department,” said , .

“General Abacha was one of the most notorious kleptocrats in memory, who embezzled billions from the people of Nigeria while millions lived in poverty,” she said.

This development comes just days after the late despot was granted an award by the Nigerian government during its centenary celebrations.