US Court Didn’t Authorise Seizure Of Nigeria’s $21m – AGF Fagbemi

• Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi clarified that a US court did not authorize the seizure of $21 million from Nigeria’s account
• The AGF emphasized that the case will proceed to a substantive hearing, following the court’s refusal of Nigeria’s motion to dismiss

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has clarified that a US district court did not authorize the seizure of $21 million from Nigeria.

This clarification follows reports in August 2023 claiming that UK/US courts had permitted Williams Emovbira, a victim of the State Security Service (SSS), to seize $21 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) account with JP Morgan in New York.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the AGF described the reports as “inaccurate.” He explained that the court had only refused Nigeria’s initial motion to dismiss the case based on claims of sovereign immunity, meaning the case will now proceed to a substantive hearing.

“The court’s decision on 12 August 2024 means that the case will now move to a full hearing, where both parties will present evidence and legal arguments,” Fagbemi stated.

He also noted that Nigeria has filed an appeal against the interlocutory ruling and expressed confidence in the strong defences it has raised in both UK and US courts, including allegations of fraud.