US refunds $954,000 that Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, the former governor of Bayelsa, stole

The late Mr. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, a former governor of Bayelsa State, stole $950,000, which the United States government has returned to Nigeria.

At a press conference on Thursday, February 16, in Abuja, US Ambassador to Nigeria Mary Beth Leonard revealed this to reporters. She said that from 1999 until his impeachment in 2005, the former governor’s official wage during his time working for the government did not correspond to the stated sum.

Beatrice Jedy-Agba, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Justice and the Solicitor-General of the Federation, announced during the news conference that money has been authorized for the construction of a healthcare facility for Bayelsa state citizens.

This asset return resulted from the forfeiture and recovery of almost $1 million USD connected to the unethical behavior of the former governor of Bayelsa state, D.S.P Alamieyeseigha.

Initiating and concluding forfeiture proceedings against certain real estate and investment funds located in Maryland and Massachusetts against the former governor, the United States government worked with the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resulted in a net forfeiture to the US government of $954,807.40.

The FRN and the USA have negotiated and completed the parameters of the asset return agreement in response to the court ruling.

It is important to note that in accordance with the terms of this agreement, Mr. President has already approved the anticipated amount to be used for the implementation of a health center project for the benefit of the people of Bayelsa state and to be monitored by the federal government and the federal ministry of justice.

From May 29, 1999, to December 9, 2005, Alamieyeseigha served as the governor of the state of Bayelsa. He passed away at the age of 62 in October 2015.