SAN FRANCISCO, August 28, (THEWILL) – As British Prime Minister Theresa May visits Nigeria and two other African countries this week, the country revealed that it had returned £70 million recovered from a Nigerian, who was convicted of fraud by an Italian court.
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Paul Arkwright, said in Abuja: “There was an Italian court case with a particular person involved. A portion the fund has been in the UK and that was the portion that was returned recently from the UK to Nigeria.’’
The envoy did not mention the identity of the Nigerian involved in the offence, but said more funds would be repatriated.
He stressed that his country was working with the Nigerian government to accelerate the legal process of returning the looted money.
“The British government has no intention of keeping one kobo of Nigerian funds in the UK. It all must come back to Nigeria.
“Just as in Nigeria, the UK feels that the judicial process is important, and we have to go through those processes before the money can be returned.”
Arkwright also confirmed that British Prime Minister Theresa May will visit Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa during the week.
May is expected in Nigeria on Wednesday as part of efforts aimed at boosting post-Brexit trade ties.
May, joined by several ministers and 29 business representatives from various industries, will be on the three-day trip, Downing Street said Monday.
The delegation will land in Cape Town on Tuesday, where May will meet South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as well as business leaders and young people.
May will meet with President Muhammadu Buhari in the capital, Abuja on Wednesday and later on, visit Lagos.
On Thursday she will meet Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The prime minister will then see British troops in training action and tour a business school, before concluding the trip at a state dinner hosted by Kenyatta.
Among those joining May are representatives of the London Stock Exchange, the Scotch Whisky Association and manufacturing firm JCB.
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