Leadnaija
A U.S. federal court has directed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to transfer approximately $6 million forfeited by convicted American arms dealer Ara Dolarian to the Nigerian government. The funds will be processed through Nigerian lawyer Jovi Usude, who successfully argued Nigeria’s case.
The judgment was delivered by Judge Jennifer L. Thurston of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California on December 23, 2024. The decision caps years of legal battles that began in 2015 when Dolarian was charged for illegal arms dealing and money laundering.
The controversy originated in 2014, during Nigeria’s efforts to combat the Boko Haram insurgency under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Nigeria’s National Security Adviser at the time, Sambo Dasuki, contracted Dolarian to procure military-grade weapons valued at $8.6 million, aiming to bolster national security amid the crisis.
However, rather than fulfilling his contractual obligations, Dolarian misappropriated the funds for personal luxuries, including purchasing a BMW and settling his taxes. His activities caught the attention of the FBI, leading to his arrest and subsequent forfeiture of $6.1 million, the remainder of the funds transferred by Nigeria.
In 2021, the Nigerian government, represented by Mr. Usude, petitioned the U.S. courts, asserting that the seized funds were Nigerian assets intended for arms procurement and not owned by Dolarian. After extensive legal deliberations, the court recognized Nigeria’s superior claim to the funds.
“The court hereby enters a final order of forfeiture, recognizing the superior interest of petitioner Federal Republic of Nigeria in the funds forfeited,” Judge Thurston declared.
The ruling marks a significant victory for Nigeria in its ongoing international efforts to recover misappropriated assets.Don’t Miss Out! READ FULL ARTICLE
