I think it is important to note that on the eve of Theresa May's visit to Nigeria, the UK government returned £70m stolen loot to Nigeria. This is probably in anticipation of the fact that the issue of Return Of stolen assets will feature in the conversation with the President.
You will recall that exactly two years ago (Aug 2016), the UK and Nigeria signed an MOU on the modalities for the return of stolen assets confiscated by the UK. The MOU spelt out the general principles in which the agreement is based and the application of the funds.
For the benefit of those who do not know, the returned funds are to be used in line with budget of the FGN for projects that will impact the poorest segment of the society as contained in the "Proceed of Crime Agency Bill" POCA which was passed on the house in July 2018.
The POCA bill is currently awaiting passage in the Senate. When passed, it will give legal and institutional framework for the confiscation, seizure, forfeiture, recovery and management of assets and proceeds derived from crime. This passage would have rendered the EO unnecessary
According to the World Bank, corrupt leaders of poor countries steal an much as $40 Billion p.a. which they stash overseas. TI estimates that £23 - £57 Billion of dirty money is laundered through the UK each year. A reasonable % of this will be from Nigeria.
I believe it is within this perceptive that the UK govt must have felt that a visit to Nigeria (which really is a visit focused on post Brexit trade alignment) should be preceded by a show of good faith with the repatriation of the £70 million to soften the ground so to say.
If Nigeria is the poverty capital of the world as pointed out by Theresa May in SA, the repatriation of stolen assets from the UK (in which there already exist a framework for the application of it IFO of the poor) would be of immense benefit to help reduce the poverty rate.
So should the conversation come up, all the President need to do is to just remind his visitor about his words to the UK over two years ago "WHAT I AM DEMANDING IS THE RETURN OF STOLEN ASSETS ". #Chikena
*Perspective
