Jersey Returns $9.5M to Nigeria for Highway Linking Capital to Major City

In a heartening display of international cooperation and commitment to justice, the Bailiwick of Jersey is returning more than $9.5 million in recovered assets to Nigeria, where the funds will help complete a transformative infrastructure project connecting millions of people.

The money will contribute to the final stages of the Abuja-Kano Road, a 375-kilometer highway that will provide a vital transportation link between Nigeria's capital and Kano, the country's second-largest city. This repatriation follows a memorandum of understanding signed in December 2025 by Jersey's Attorney General, Mark Temple KC, and represents the continuation of a remarkably successful partnership between Jersey and Nigeria.

What makes this story particularly inspiring is the track record of collaboration between these partners. This latest repatriation builds on two previous agreements that have already returned more than $300 million to Nigeria, funding three major infrastructure projects. Notably, two of these projects, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Second Niger Bridge, are now complete and serving the Nigerian people daily.

The Ripple Effect of this international cooperation extends far beyond the dollar figures. Every repatriated fund represents a commitment to ensuring that resources find their way back to the communities they were meant to serve. The completed expressway and bridge are now facilitating commerce, connecting families, and creating economic opportunities for countless Nigerians. The Abuja-Kano Road, once finished, will similarly transform travel and trade between two of Nigeria's most important urban centers.

Jersey's Attorney General Mark Temple highlighted the effectiveness of the civil forfeiture process, noting that "this successful return demonstrates the strength of our civil forfeiture legislation as a powerful tool in the fight against corruption." His words underscore how legal systems can work together across borders to achieve justice and positive outcomes.

Nigeria's Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, expressed enthusiasm about the growing international collaboration, describing the recovery as evidence that partnerships are strengthening. "The successful recovery and repatriation of the forfeited assets underscores the effectiveness of Nigeria's collaborative efforts with its international partners in ensuring that there is no safe haven for illicitly acquired wealth," he said. He also assured that the Nigerian government would use the funds responsibly in accordance with the memorandum's terms.

The forfeiture process, completed under Jersey's civil asset recovery laws, demonstrates how modern legal frameworks can effectively address financial wrongdoing. The funds were identified, frozen, and ultimately redirected toward their most beneficial use: improving infrastructure that serves everyday Nigerians.

This story represents more than just the return of money. It showcases how international cooperation, transparent agreements, and dedicated legal professionals can work together to create tangible improvements in people's lives. The highways, bridges, and roads being built with these recovered funds will serve Nigerians for generations, turning a story that began with corruption into one of redemption and progress. As this partnership continues to bear fruit, it offers a hopeful model for how nations can collaborate to ensure justice prevails and communities benefit.