By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
An international human rights outfit, the U.S – Nigeria Law Group, based in Washington DC, USA, has set up an anti-corruption investigation on the roles played by both the late former Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, and his daughter on the repatriated General Sani Abacha funds, particularly the $311 million returned to Nigeria by the United States of America, recently.
The U.S – Nigeria Law group said that it was conducting the anti-corruption investigation in view of the return of the $311 millon by the U.S . government to Nigeria recently and the likelihood that a family member of an interlocutor has been put in charge of the funds and potentially benefit financially, and as a result, “we would like this responded to in a timely fashion.”
In view of the investigation, the group headed by Emmanuel Ogebe, has written to the office of the Information Programmes and Services, U.S Department of State, Washington DC, requesting under the Freedom of Information Act from the Records of the Bureau of African Affairs and Office of the Secretary of State to provide/ furnish it with all the documents.
These documents include memos, cables, meeting read/handouts and other specific information involving the late chief of staff to the President of Nigeria, Abba Kyari regarding the Abacha loot monies stolen from Nigeria and forfeited to the U.S government.
In the letter to the U.S Department and copied to U.S Congress, the human rights group while asking for timely response to its request, also demanded the inclusion of any discussion or documents acknowledging the fact that Abba Kyari’s daughter had been appointed Vice President of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
The group noted that the $311 million repatriated by the U.S.A. to Nigeria was given to the NSIA to manage, adding that the authority is being paid for managing the Abacha loot.
The U.S – Nigeria Law Group in its FoI request, is further asking for any document showing whether the NSIA was cleared of any potential conflict of interest or nepotism; information/document that validate the statement credited last month to the Assistant Security of State for African Affairs, Tibor Nagy who reportedly said that: “Kyari was a valued and respected interlocutor for the U.S Government and particularly for our leadership team in Abuja.
“That we appreciate working with him on many important matters, including the return to the Nigerian people of over $300 millon in funds stolen by Sani Abacha.
“That he envisioned the funds going to three geographically desperate infrastructure projects as a way to unite Nigeria economically.
“That his dedication to this matter, to fighting corruption and to countless other investments and policies for the future of Nigeria will leave a lasting impact on your country.”
