The United States (U.S.) has signed an agreement with President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet for the repatriation of $954,000 loot of late Bayelsa Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
Mr. Alamieyeseigha, a former Governor of Bayelsa, died on October 10, 2015, in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, at the aged of 65.
US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, speaking on Thursday in Abuja, said that the former governor accumulated millions of dollars through abuse of office and money laundering, People Gazette reports.
Ms Leonard explained that the official salary of Mr Alamieyeseigha did not match the said fund as a public servant from 1999 till he was impeached in 2005.
Responding, the solicitor-General of the Federation, Ms Jedy-Agba, said the fund would be utilised in developing the healthcare system of Bayelsa.
Ms Jedy-Agba hinted that Mr Buhari already gave the order that the huge sum be used to improve the health care and facility in Mr Alamieyeseigha’s home state.
The deceased, popularly known as “Governor-General of the Ijaw Nation,” while alive, was the first Governor of Bayelsa, and served between 1999 and 2005 before he was impeached by the state legislators.
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He was impeached on allegations of corruption on December 9, 2005, while Mr Goodluck Jonathan, his deputy at that time, immediately took over the rein of power.
Recall that his impeachment by the state legislators followed his escape from the United Kingdom, London, after he allegedly disguised himself as a woman. Although, he denied the claim.
At the time of his arrest, the Metropolitan police found about £1m in cash in his London home. They later found a total of £1.8m ($3.2m) in cash and bank accounts.
The Bayelsa ex-governor was also found to own four homes in London worth an alleged £10 million.
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Mr Alamieyeseigha was prosecuted on July 26, 2007, before a Nigerian court on a six-count charge bordering on corruption and sentenced to two years in prison on each charge.
But he was granted a presidential pardon by Mr Jonathan, who later became Nigeria’s president.
