Recovered loot scandal: Civil society organizations demand accountability for over $50 million in delay

Civil society organizations have raised fresh concerns over the failure to use millions of dollars recovered from former public officials, warning that delays in disbursing the funds could erode public confidence in Nigeria’s fight against corruption.

The groups said about $50 million linked to former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, and $954,000 recovered from former Bayelsa State governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, remain largely unaccounted for in terms of impact, despite being repatriated for specific development projects.

The concerns were raised during a two-day town hall meeting on the recovery and use of assets, where the executive director of the African Network for Economic and Environmental Justice, David Ugolor, revealed that investigations by civil society groups showed that none of the projects linked to the recovered funds had begun.

Ugolor said that a year after Galactica signed the repayment agreement to return $52.88 million tied to Alison-Madueke, earmarked for the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up project, there was no evidence the funds had been distributed.

According to him, efforts to obtain details on the location and use of the funds by the Rural Electrification Agency have yielded little response, raising concerns about transparency.

“Our findings show that no part of Galactica resources has been used more than a year after the agreement was signed,” he said, adding that while a portion allocated to international justice programs would be used, the main development component remained intact.

Likewise, the group decried delays in the utilization of $954,000 recovered from Alamieyeseigha, which was returned about three years ago for the development of primary health centers in Bayelsa State.

Ugolor noted that despite the passage of time, the state government was still in the process of selecting non-governmental organizations to monitor the project, with no visible progress on the ground.

He said civil society observers who visited the designated health centers found that none had been upgraded or developed with the recovered funds.

While praising the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for its role in recovering looted assets, Ugolor stressed that recovery without transparent use defeats the purpose of anti-corruption efforts.

He said Nigerians are increasingly asking crucial questions about how recovered funds are spent, who benefits and what safeguards exist to prevent renewed looting.

He added that the proper use of recovered assets would not only provide tangible benefits to vulnerable communities, but would also strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s governance and asset restitution framework.

Ugolor warned that continued mismanagement or delays could undermine both national and international confidence in the country’s anti-corruption initiatives.

‘

Want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need advertising for a product, service or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com

We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Please donate any amount HERE