SERAP exposes Diezani Alison-Madueke’ s loots to US government 

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has written the US President-elect Donald Trump, urging his administration “to promptly identify US-based proceeds of corruption traced to former and current Nigerian public officials and their associates and to ensure the full recovery and return of any such stolen assets to Nigeria.

SERAP further 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 so as to fulfill several non-controversial commitments by the US to assist Nigeria in asset recovery matters.

The organisation in a letter dated and signed by deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare on the18th January 2025, said: “Diezani Alison-Madueke’s looted assets and other recently returned assets represent a tiny fraction of the over $500 billions that have been reportedly stolen from Nigeria and located in the US or otherwise subject to US jurisdiction.”

SERAP noted that any return of such 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.

The organisation 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.

“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.

“Proceeds of corruption from Nigeria continue to be deposited in US banks or in other locations subject to US jurisdictions,” the letter reads in part.

The latest request followed the recently returned $52.88 million in forfeited corruption proceeds linked to former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke.

It reads further: “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.

“The US has the obligations under the relevant provisions of the UN Convention against Corruption to trace, freeze and seize proceeds of corruption from Nigeria and located in the US or otherwise subject to US jurisdiction and to return the assets to the Nigerian people.

“A whole chapter of the Convention is devoted to international cooperation in the recovery and return of stolen assets including from Nigeria (chapter V, comprising 9 articles).”