The United States of America has opposed plans by the Nigerian Government to give the $100m Sani Abacha loot set to be returned to the country to the incumbent Governor of Kebbi State, former Sen. Atiku Bagudu.
The disagreement stands to breach trust and cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in their efforts to repatriate stolen money moved offshore by the former Military Head of State General Sani Abacha. The dead former head of state who died in power has been accused by transparency International to have looted an estimated $5bn during his 5years in power, Bloomberg reports.
A commitment by Nigeria to transfer the funds to Kebbi State governor, Atiku Bagudu, appears to undermine President Muhammadu Buhari’s pledge to quell rampant graft in Africa’s top oil producer.
The U.S. Department of Justice says Bagudu was involved in corruption with Abacha.
The DoJ also contends that the Nigerian Government was hindering U.S. efforts to recover allegedly laundered money it says was traced to Bagudu.
Buhari’s administration says a 17-year-old agreement entitles Bagudu to the funds and prevents Nigeria from assisting the U.S., according to recent filings from the District Court for the District of Columbia in Washington.
“This case illustrates how complex and contentious repatriating stolen assets to Nigeria can be,” said Matthew Page, an associate fellow at London-based Chatham House and former expert for U.S. intelligence agencies.
“Instead of welcoming U.S. efforts, Nigeria’s lawyers appear to be supporting the interests of one of the country’s most powerful families.”
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Neither Atiku Bagudu nor a spokesperson for Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, responded to requests for comment.
Successive Nigerian governments have sought to recoup the money looted by Abacha, who died in office, and have so far repatriated more than $2bn with the cooperation of other countries, according to U.S. court filings.
The full texts of neither settlement were published in the court filings.
Buhari’s administration submitted the 2018 deal to the U.K. court in September to support its application to unfreeze the assets so they can be sent to Nigeria, according to the opinion.
The court has yet to make a decision. 
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