By Abiola Olawale
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the incoming administration of United States President-elect Donald Trump to take immediate action in addressing the issue of corruption relating to Nigerian government officials.
SERAP, in a letter addressed to Trump, said it made the call to emphasize the importance of identifying and tracking any proceeds of corruption that are connected to both former and current Nigerian public officials, along with their associates, that may be located within the United States.
The organization also appealed to the US government to take decisive action in recovering any assets that have been stolen and subsequently uncovered.
The organization emphasized the importance of ensuring that these funds are fully retrieved and returned to Nigeria and that the effort would bolster the nation’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption and foster a culture of accountability within its institutions.
SERAP said, “Any return of proceeds of corruption from Nigeria must meet strict transparency and accountability standards to ensure the funds are used solely for the benefit of the Nigerian people.”
SERAP urged him to “direct the US Department of Justice to promptly initiate civil asset forfeiture proceedings against proceeds of corruption traced to former and current Nigerian public officials and their associates to fulfill several non-controversial commitments by the US to assist Nigeria in asset recovery matters.”
SERAP also urged him “to identify and publish the names of former and current Nigerian public officials suspected to be responsible for corruption and the depositing of its proceeds in US banks, and to apply existing US presidential proclamations to temporarily ban such officials from entering the US.”
In the letter dated 18 January 2025 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “Diezani Alison-Madueke’s looted assets and other recently returned assets represent a tiny fraction of the over $500 billion that have been reportedly stolen from Nigeria and located in the US or otherwise subject to US jurisdiction.”
SERAP said, “Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the UN Convention against Corruption to which both the US and Nigeria are states parties.”
According to SERAP, “Proceeds of corruption from Nigeria continue to be deposited in US banks or other locations subject to US jurisdictions.”
The request followed the recently returned $52.88 million in forfeited corruption proceeds linked to former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The letter, read in part: “We hope you and your incoming government address the legal impediments that have continued to allow corrupt Nigerian government officials to deposit and conceal their ill-gotten assets in the US and other locations subject to US jurisdiction.”
“Returning proceeds of corruption to Nigeria is a development imperative. By returning proceeds of corruption to Nigeria, the US would be contributing to the efforts to address the growing poverty in the country and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.”
