US Court Did Not Authorize Seizure of Nigeria’s $21m – AGF Fagbemi Clarifies

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has dismissed claims that a U.S. district court authorized the seizure of Nigeria’s $21 million.

In August 2024, reports surfaced suggesting that U.K. and U.S. courts had approved the seizure of the funds, allegedly in favor of an individual named Williams Emovbira, a victim of Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS), from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) account with JP Morgan in New York.

However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, Fagbemi described these reports as “inaccurate.” He clarified that the court had merely rejected Nigeria’s preliminary motion to dismiss the complaint on the grounds of sovereign immunity.

“The decision delivered on 12 August 2024 means the case will now proceed to a substantive hearing. Both parties will present their evidence and legal arguments, after which the court will issue a final ruling,” Fagbemi explained.

The AGF further revealed that Nigeria had filed an appeal against the interlocutory decision, expressing confidence that the country’s robust defenses, including allegations of fraud, would ultimately prevail in both U.K. and U.S. courts.