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The government of Switzerland has said that it has returned a total sum of $1.7billion both in cash and assets to Nigeria and other countries in the last 15 years.
Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria, Hans-Rudolf Hodel disclosed this to journalists in Abuja yesterday at the beginning of a 3-day seminar on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism, in conjunction with the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) and the Nigerian government.
According to Hodel, the countries to which the looted funds and assets were returned include: Montesinos case, Peru (2005), the Marcos case, the Phillipines (2003), the Angolese assets case, Angola (2005) and the Abacha case, Nigeria (2005).
Regarding the case of the late former head of state, Gen Sani Abacha’s loot, the ambassador said Switzerland had returned $700million of illicit assets to Nigeria, and the case had been successfully closed since 2009.
‘’In December 1999, Nigeria presented to Switzerland a formal request for mutual legal assistance involving former Head of State, Sani Abacha. On the basis of Swiss legislation in partnership with Nigerian authorities, it was able to gather all relevant information to proceed, between 2005 and 2009 with the restitution of the funds to the Nigerian government,” Hodel explained.
He also refuted claims in some quarters that the Swiss government was holding on to part of the Abacha loot.
He stated that Switzerland found only $700million which it had returned, adding that if there is proof of any looted fund discovered or left in any Swiss account, the government would follow due process and return it accordingly.
Regarding investigations into the fraudulent activities of some Nigerian marketers in the fuel subsidy scheme under the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF), he said the Swiss government in 2012 received a request from Nigeria for mutual legal assistance.
‘’The request has been forwarded to the competent Swiss judicial authorities who are in contact with the competent Nigerian judicial authorities. Legal proceedings are ongoing and we cannot provide any further information,” Hodel said.
On the issue of terrorism, Hodel condemned the act in strong terms, describing it as a crime. The ambassador said that Switzerland believes that international and regional cooperation is crucial in the fight against terrorism.
“We, therefore, actively take part in the Global Counter-terrorism Forum and by doing so, intend to strengthen the comprehensive and balanced implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy”, he said.
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Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria, Hans-Rudolf Hodel disclosed this to journalists in Abuja yesterday at the beginning of a 3-day seminar on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism, in conjunction with the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) and the Nigerian government.
According to Hodel, the countries to which the looted funds and assets were returned include: Montesinos case, Peru (2005), the Marcos case, the Phillipines (2003), the Angolese assets case, Angola (2005) and the Abacha case, Nigeria (2005).
Regarding the case of the late former head of state, Gen Sani Abacha’s loot, the ambassador said Switzerland had returned $700million of illicit assets to Nigeria, and the case had been successfully closed since 2009.
‘’In December 1999, Nigeria presented to Switzerland a formal request for mutual legal assistance involving former Head of State, Sani Abacha. On the basis of Swiss legislation in partnership with Nigerian authorities, it was able to gather all relevant information to proceed, between 2005 and 2009 with the restitution of the funds to the Nigerian government,” Hodel explained.
He also refuted claims in some quarters that the Swiss government was holding on to part of the Abacha loot.
He stated that Switzerland found only $700million which it had returned, adding that if there is proof of any looted fund discovered or left in any Swiss account, the government would follow due process and return it accordingly.
Regarding investigations into the fraudulent activities of some Nigerian marketers in the fuel subsidy scheme under the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF), he said the Swiss government in 2012 received a request from Nigeria for mutual legal assistance.
‘’The request has been forwarded to the competent Swiss judicial authorities who are in contact with the competent Nigerian judicial authorities. Legal proceedings are ongoing and we cannot provide any further information,” Hodel said.
On the issue of terrorism, Hodel condemned the act in strong terms, describing it as a crime. The ambassador said that Switzerland believes that international and regional cooperation is crucial in the fight against terrorism.
“We, therefore, actively take part in the Global Counter-terrorism Forum and by doing so, intend to strengthen the comprehensive and balanced implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy”, he said.
- Leadership
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