U.S. Agrees To Help Nigeria Recover Loots

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Buhari and Obama

The Presidency has disclosed that the United States government is now ready to assist Nigeria recover all identified ill-gotten wealth in the U.S. and other countries where it enjoys such cooperations.

It further said that American government will also train Nigerian judiciary officers and prosecutors as part of efforts to tackle corruption in Nigeria.

These have been the kernel of discussion between President Muhammadu Buhari and the United States Attorney-General, Loretta Lynch, on the subject of support for the war on corruption in Nigeria.

A statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the two nations agreed that the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty signed between the two countries in 1985 which came into effect in 2003 be given some teeth.

“There will be collaboration. Each of the two countries will receive legal assistance from the other on criminal matters and that should cover the recovery of ill-gotten wealth.

“On extradition, we already have a treaty with U.S. By virtue of being a former British colonial territory,” the statement said.

“There is however the possibility that Nigeria might negotiate a new extradition treaty to meet our other requirements. The negotiation will be done under the auspices of a ‘reenergized’ U.S-Nigeria Bi-National Commission.”