The Bailiwick of Jersey has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the repatriation of more than $9.5 million in funds adjudged to be proceeds of corruption, in a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s ongoing infrastructure development efforts.
Mark Temple, Attorney General for Jersey, executed the MoU in December 2025, paving the way for the return of the forfeited funds to Nigeria for use in a critical national infrastructure project.
The funds were recovered following civil forfeiture proceedings initiated by the Jersey authorities.
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According to a statement by British High Commission in Nigeria on Friday, on November 29, 2023, the Attorney General of Jersey applied to the Royal Court under the Forfeiture of Assets (Civil Proceedings) (Jersey) Law 2018, seeking the forfeiture of assets held in a Jersey bank account.
“On January 12, 2024, the Royal Court granted the forfeiture order after finding that the funds were, on the balance of probabilities, the proceeds of a corrupt scheme”, the statement said.
According to the court’s findings, the funds were linked to a scheme in which third-party contractors diverted government monies for the benefit of senior Nigerian officials and their associates.
“The latest MoU builds on a longstanding asset recovery partnership between Jersey and Nigeria.
‘Under two previous agreements, more than $300 million has already been repatriated to Nigeria and deployed towards three major infrastructure projects: the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Second Niger Bridge, and the Abuja-Kano Road.
“The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Second Niger Bridge have since been completed.
“Under the terms of the new agreement, the $9.5 million will be applied to the final stages of the Abuja-Kano Road project, a 375-kilometre highway expected to serve as a vital transport corridor linking Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, with Kano, the country’s second-largest city and a major commercial hub” the statement highlighted.
Speaking on the development, Temple, described the repatriation as a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of Jersey’s legal framework in tackling financial crime.
“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”, Temple said.
Lateef Fagbemi, Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, also welcomed the recovery, describing it as evidence of the success of Nigeria’s collaboration with international partners in combating corruption and illicit financial flows.
“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,” Fagbemi said.
He expressed the Federal Government’s appreciation to the Bailiwick of Jersey for its cooperation throughout the asset recovery process and assured that the funds would be used strictly in accordance with the MoU.
“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.
“I 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”, he added.
