UK returns over $9.5m ‘tainted’ funds to Nigerian Government for critical infrastructure

*Mark Temple KC, His Majesty’s Attorney-General for Jersey, signs Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate the return of over $9.5 million to the Nigerian Government, to provide additional resources for a critical infrastructure project in the West African country

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Mark Temple KC, His Majesty’s Attorney-General for Jersey, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate the return of over $9.5 million “tainted” money to the Nigerian Government.

Tainted funds, also known as “dirty” monies have been described as “illegally obtained funds, originating from illicit activities or morally questionable sources.”

The fundamental objective of the UK Government’s decision to return the stolen money linked to late former Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha’s corruption is to provide additional resources for a critical infrastructure project in the West African country.

His Majesty’s Attorney General for Jersey, Mark Temple KC, signing the Memorandum of Understanding       Photo: BHC/FCDO Abuja

The Bailiwick of Jersey endorsed the agreement with Nigeria to return the funds deemed to be the proceeds of corruption.

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The British High Commission (BHC) Communications Office, in a statement Friday, January 9, 2026, in Abuja, FCT, affirmed that the recovered funds would  be deployed to support critical infrastructure projects in Nigeria.

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The statement disclosed that His Majesty’s Attorney General for Jersey, Mark Temple KC, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) in December 2025 to facilitate the return of more than $9.5 million to the Government of Nigeria, providing additional resources for a critical infrastructure project.

It is recalled that on 29 November, 2023, the Attorney-General applied to the Royal Court of Jersey under the Forfeiture of Assets (Civil Proceedings) (Jersey) Law 2018, in respect of tainted property, had held in a Jersey bank account.

On 12 January, 2024, the Royal Court granted a forfeiture order after determining that the funds were more likely than not the proceeds of a corrupt scheme in which third-party contractors diverted government monies for the benefit of senior Nigerian officials and their associates.

The MoU builds on two previous agreements between Jersey and Nigeria, under which more than $300 million has already been repatriated to support three major infrastructure projects: the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway; the Second Niger Bridge; and the Abuja-Kano Road. The first two projects are now complete.

Under the terms of the MoU, the forfeited funds will contribute to the final stages of the Abuja-Kano Road—a 375 km highway that will provide a vital link between Nigeria’s capital and its second-largest city.

Speaking on the development, His Majesty’s Attorney General, Mark Temple KC, said: “This successful return demonstrates the strength of our civil forfeiture legislation as a powerful tool in the fight against corruption.

“I thank the Nigerian authorities for their cooperation and the Economic Crime and Confiscation Unit in my Department for their unwavering commitment to recover the proceeds of crime.”

In his remarks also, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, said: “The successful recovery and repatriation of the forfeited assets, underscores the effectiveness of Nigeria’s collaborative efforts with its international partners in ensuring that there is no safe haven for illicitly acquired wealth or assets moved to foreign jurisdictions.

“I want to, on behalf of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, thank the Bailiwick of Jersey for the cooperation accorded Nigeria during the Recovery exercise.”

The Nigerian Minister for Justice also stated: “I want to further assure the Bailiwick of Jersey, that the repatriated assets will be judiciously utilised in line with the terms of the executed Memorandum of Understanding.”

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