By Emmanuel Nduka
U.S. President Donald Trump has disbanded the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, a specialized Department of Justice (DOJ) team tasked with recovering billions of dollars looted by Nigeria’s late military leader, Sani Abacha, and addressing other international corruption cases.
A source close to the unit confirmed that newly appointed Attorney General Pam Bondi quietly dismantled the team earlier this week, following Trump’s authorization as part of his administration’s efforts to scale back various government programs, The Peoples Gazette reported on Saturday.
The decision reportedly took many by surprise, given the team’s significant role in tracing stolen assets, including ongoing litigation related to Abacha’s ill-gotten wealth, some of which is linked to Atiku Bagudu, a close associate of current Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu.
This move could hamper future efforts to locate hidden Abacha assets, which investigators believe remain undiscovered.
Launched in 2010, the Kleptocracy initiative was designed to track and recover assets tied to global corruption.
As at the time of writing this report, Nigeria’s anti-graft agency- the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or Nigeria’s presidential spokesperson were yet to issue a statement regarding the development.
It remains uncertain how the DOJ will proceed with ongoing cases in U.S. courts or if it will continue its cooperation with international efforts to recover Abacha’s stolen funds in other jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom.
The Trump administration has signaled a shift in focus, prioritizing the dismantling of narcotics and human trafficking networks instead.
