The Nigerian government has officially received $52.88 million in assets linked to Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Minister of Petroleum. The funds were returned by the United States on Friday, as part of efforts to combat corruption and misuse of public resources.

At a signing ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, revealed that $50 million of the recovered amount would be directed towards rural electrification projects through the World Bank. This initiative aims to improve electricity access in underserved areas of Nigeria.

The remaining $2.88 million will be used to strengthen the justice system in Nigeria, supporting anti-corruption initiatives with the help of the International Institute of Justice.

“This asset return signifies a milestone in the collaboration between Nigeria and the United States to combat corruption and uphold the rule of law,” Fagbemi stated.

Fagbemi highlighted that the recovery of these assets aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to fighting corruption and ensuring the proper use of public funds for national development.

U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, also spoke at the ceremony, urging the Nigerian government to ensure the recovered funds are properly monitored and used for the benefit of the people.

This step marks a significant achievement in the global fight against corruption and the effort to bring back stolen assets to the country.

“The Ministry of Justice must guarantee that these funds are used transparently and effectively to improve the lives of Nigerians,” Mills said.