{"id":18149,"date":"2018-04-06T13:40:44","date_gmt":"2018-04-06T13:40:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/?p=18149"},"modified":"2018-04-06T13:40:44","modified_gmt":"2018-04-06T13:40:44","slug":"the-looting-of-abachas-loot-swiss-lawyer-says-he-did-not-ask-for-extra-pay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/?p=18149","title":{"rendered":"THE LOOTING OF ABACHA&#8217;S LOOT: SWISS LAWYER SAYS HE DID NOT ASK FOR EXTRA PAY"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><code><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<!-- www.deltanewsroom.com --><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-2163942495525027\" data-ad-slot=\"1411897411\" data-ad-format=\"auto\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/code><\/p>\n<div data-contents=\"true\">\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"fb2fo-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"fb2fo-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"fb2fo-0-0\">Enrico Monfrini, a Swiss lawyer hired by the Nigerian government since 1999 to work on recovering Abacha loot, has denied asking for additional fees.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"c3tkq-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"c3tkq-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"c3tkq-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"2j8en-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"2j8en-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"2j8en-0-0\">His denial came on the heels of a syndicated article in Nigerian media seeking to justify the duplication of Monfrini\u2019s job by Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF).<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"dvgqv-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"dvgqv-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"dvgqv-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"29ohj-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"29ohj-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"29ohj-0-0\">TheCable had reported the engagement of another set of Nigerian lawyers for a fee of $17 million (about N6 billion) for a job already completed by Monfrini.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"3mjfr-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"3mjfr-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"3mjfr-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"7v184-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"7v184-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"7v184-0-0\">But an article apparently sponsored to discredit TheCable alleged that Monfrini was asking for an additional 20 percent to \u201ccomplete the job\u201d.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"bt1hv-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"bt1hv-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"bt1hv-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"cs5l6-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"cs5l6-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"cs5l6-0-0\">Malami allegedly made a counter offer of 5 percent which Monfrini rejected, and this reportedly prompted Malami to engage the services of two Nigerian lawyers \u2014 Oladipo Okpeseyi, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and Temitope Adebayo.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"ci630-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"ci630-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"ci630-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alternativeadvert.com\/show.php?z=30&amp;pl=15903&amp;ad_type=59&amp;rl=180\" width=\"300\" height=\"250\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"aaguf-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"aaguf-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"aaguf-0-0\">In an email to TheCable on Thursday, however, Monfrini explained that there is no truth in the allegation.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"ejl4l-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"ejl4l-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"ejl4l-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"fvbmi-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"fvbmi-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"fvbmi-0-0\">\u201cI never had the audacity to claim for additional fees. This figure of 20 % is simply invented. I didn\u2019t reject any proposal made by Mr Malami since my fees were already paid a long time before Mr Malami\u2019s appointment as attorney general,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"2vpd6-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"2vpd6-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"2vpd6-0-0\">\u201cThe repatriation of the $321 million was not completed by me. It\u2019s a matter which is normally dealt between governments and which doesn\u2019t entail the engagement of lawyers. I have no idea of the whereabouts of these $321 million.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"b54md-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"b54md-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"b54md-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"58l81-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"58l81-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"58l81-0-0\">\u201cI know that they have been restituted to Nigeria by the Swiss government a few months ago. On the other hand, I don\u2019t know why it took about three years for the two governments to agree that said restitution should be monitored by World Bank since this concept was created by me some 15 years ago.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"cin7m-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"cin7m-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"cin7m-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"5cs9o-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"5cs9o-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"5cs9o-0-0\">Working with then-attorney-general of Nigeria, Mohammed Adoke, Monfrini traced about $321 million to Luxembourg.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"d1p3-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"d1p3-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"d1p3-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"6k57a-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"6k57a-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"6k57a-0-0\">The monies were recovered and kept in the custody of the attorney-general of Switzerland, awaiting final return to Nigeria.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"eqm1u-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"eqm1u-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"eqm1u-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"c67uo-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"c67uo-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"c67uo-0-0\">Monfrini had, earlier, told TheCable that he did not know why Nigeria decided to appoint other lawyers.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"16psr-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"16psr-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"16psr-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"834vp-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"834vp-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"834vp-0-0\">\u201cUpon the election of President Buhari, the newly appointed minister of justice and attorney-general, Malami, appeared to prefer using the services of other lawyers in Nigeria and elsewhere,\u201d he had said.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"bivtl-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"bivtl-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"bivtl-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"4fdt7-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"4fdt7-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"4fdt7-0-0\">TheCable had also reported how Nigeria will be paying $17 million (over N6 billion) to the freshly engaged lawyers who would \u201chelp\u201d with the repatriation of $321 million stolen by Abacha.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"b0mb3-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"b0mb3-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"b0mb3-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"52aic-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"52aic-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"52aic-0-0\">This amount is nearly thrice more than what was already paid to Monfrini for the same job.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"3itbp-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"3itbp-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"3itbp-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"5dsjk-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"5dsjk-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"5dsjk-0-0\">A senior official of the ministry of justice had told TheCable that \u201cthis is a case of re-looting Abacha loot\u201d.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"89p2b-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"89p2b-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"89p2b-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"eaojh-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"eaojh-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"eaojh-0-0\">\u201cA simple letter from the office of our attorney-general of the federation to the Swiss attorney-general requesting the repatriation of the funds to Nigeria consequent upon the signing of an MoU was all that was required to consummate the deal,\u201d the official said.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"37vq0-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"37vq0-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"37vq0-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"eg1su-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"eg1su-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"eg1su-0-0\">\u201cFrom nowhere, Malami went and appointed another set of lawyers to do his job for him, and for few million dollars too.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"2b76e-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"2b76e-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"2b76e-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"bag4i-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"bag4i-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"bag4i-0-0\">The Cable Foundation, a partner organisation of TheCable newspaper, is currently in court to seek an order of mandamus compelling the AGF to release the details of the repatriation agreements with the lawyers.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"cbbvm-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"cbbvm-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"cbbvm-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"5oh9q-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"5oh9q-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"5oh9q-0-0\">An official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has, however, told TheCable that the anti-graft agency is closely monitoring the situation.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"fdb6g-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"fdb6g-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"fdb6g-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"fhd7f\" data-offset-key=\"4s4gr-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"4s4gr-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"4s4gr-0-0\">\u201cIf a case of duplication is established, there will be consequences. This government takes the anti-graft war as a priority, as you well know, and this particular transaction is of interest to us,\u201d the official said<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/ABACHA.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-18150\" src=\"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/ABACHA.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"420\" height=\"420\" srcset=\"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/ABACHA.jpg 720w, http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/ABACHA-150x150.jpg 150w, http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/ABACHA-300x300.jpg 300w, http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/ABACHA-80x80.jpg 80w, http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/ABACHA-40x40.jpg 40w, http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/ABACHA-64x64.jpg 64w, http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/ABACHA-75x75.jpg 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Enrico Monfrini, a Swiss lawyer hired by the Nigerian government since 1999 to work on recovering Abacha loot, has denied asking for additional fees. \u00a0 His denial came on the heels of a syndicated article in Nigerian media seeking to justify the duplication of Monfrini\u2019s job by Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF). [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":18150,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"spay_email":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[2517,4564,4563,4561,322,4562],"class_list":["post-18149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","tag-abubakar-malami","tag-enrico-monfrini","tag-mohammed-adoke","tag-oladipo-okpeseyi","tag-sani-abacha","tag-temitope-adebayo"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/ABACHA.jpg","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4oswh-4IJ","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18149","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18149"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18149\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18151,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18149\/revisions\/18151"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/18150"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}