The United States of America, USA, has repatriated the sum of $950, 000, which was looted by a former Governor of Bayelsa State, late Mr. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, back to Nigeria.

The U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs. Mary Beth Leonard, who signed the Asset Return Agreement with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, at the Federal Ministry of Justice headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, said that the returned loot should be used to improve healthcare infrastructure in Bayelsa state.

The Attorney-General of Bayelsa state, Mr. Biriyai Dambo, SAN, was equally present at the official handover ceremony of the recovered loot.

In her speech, the US Ambassador said her country would continue to deny safe heaven to corrupt public officials.
She disclosed that over 80 corrupt leaders where last year, denied entry into the U.S.

On his part, Malami, whose speech was read by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, commended the US government for ensuring that looted funds are returned to Nigeria.

The AGF noted that Nigeria has continued to enjoy favourable consideration from the US, not only in its agreement to return the funds that were looted from the Bayelsa state treasury, “but in other pending cases such as Galactica, Blue Assets, Saborne, amongst others”.