TI described the withdrawal as an act of encouraging impunity, calling for “an immediate reinstatement of all corruption charges previously held against Abacha.” It also recalled that the United States government had frozen US$458m in assets it claimed the late Abacha and his co-conspirators stole from Nigeria.
It said, “Allowing the theft of public funds to go unpunished sends the wrong message that those with powerful connections can act with impunity. The case should have been fully prosecuted and the government has not given adequate reasons for dropping the charges.
“In separate legal proceedings, Liechtenstein agreed on June 18 to return US$224m held by companies linked to the late Gen. Abacha. Corruption is widespread in Nigeria and despite claims by the government to make tackling corruption a priority too few people have been held to account for a series of high profile scandals.”
TI said this in a statement by its Regional Director for sub-Saharan Africa, Chantal Uwimana, on Thursday.
The Federal Government of Nigeria had charged Mohammed Abacha for helping his father to steal and launder a total of about N446.3bn allegedly stolen from the government’s coffers between 1995 and 1998.
But Adoke, acting on behalf of the Federal Government last Wednesday, asked Justice Mamman Kolo of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to strike out the charges on the grounds of “fresh facts” that just emerged concerning the case.
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