[SERAP]:Court Orders $5 Billion Abacha Loot Accountability for the Obasanjo, Yar'Adua, Jonathan, and Buhari Administrations

 

In a landmark decision, the Federal High Court in Abuja mandated that the $5 billion in Abacha spending be made public.

Approximately $5 billion in Abacha loot was recovered by the administrations of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari. A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the revelation of the expenditure information.

The court ordered President Bola Tinubu's administration to "disclose the exact amount of money stolen by General Sani Abacha from Nigeria, the total amount of Abacha loot recovered, and all agreements signed on same by the governments of former Presidents Obasanjo, Yar'Adua, Jonathan, and Buhari."

Following a lawsuit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) under the Freedom of Information Act with case number FHC/ABJ/CS/407/2020, Justice James Kolawole Omotosho issued the ruling last week.

Justice Omotosho said in his decision that "in the end, the application by SERAP is meritorious and the Federal Government through the Ministry of Finance is hereby ordered to furnish SERAP with the full spending details of approximately $5 billion Abacha loot within 7 days of this judgement."