NEWS/UPDATES

UK Court Seizes £2m Cash Linked To Former FCT Minister, Jerry Useni

3 years ago
Daniel Sodiq

According to a report by The Nation, a Royal Court in Jersey Island, United Kingdom has reportedly seized about £2 million belonging to Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Useni (rtd), a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory during the Gen. Sani Abacha-led military administration.

The said sum, described by a Jersey Island publication, Bailiwick Express, as “dirty money transferred into local bank accounts by a Nigerian General and politician said to be corrupt dictator Sani Abacha’s right-hand man”, was said allegedly transferred by Useni into four Standard Chartered Bank accounts on the Island.

Useni, the second most senior officer under the rule of General Abacha between 1993 and 1998, was said to have first opened an account in Jersey in 1986 in the name of ‘Mr Tim Shani’, who he later admitted did not exist and presented himself as the true account holder.

“Over the next 15 years, money totalling £1.9m was transferred into four accounts held by ‘Mr Shani’ with Standard Chartered Bank,” the publication stated.

It added: “In 2001, the bank wrote to Gen Useni – believing him to be ‘Mr Shani’ – informing him that changes to anti-money laundering legislation in Jersey had resulted in stricter regulations, including the need to have a certified copy of his passport.

“In response, six months later, ‘Mr Shani’ requested that the entire balance in his existing accounts be transferred to a Nigerian bank, in which it transpires that Gen. Useni was a shareholder.

“This request was rejected, and in February 2003, the bank was refused permission to operate the accounts by the police’s Joint Financial Crimes Unit. “There followed several attempts by Gen Useni’s lawyer to unfreeze the accounts and, in 2007, Gen Useni finally identified himself as the true owner of the Shani accounts.

“Giving his occupation as ‘Lieutenant-General’, he informed Standard Chartered that the main source of his wealth was derived from the profits of his multiple businesses, which included transportation, hotel hospitality, petrol stations, personal savings and property investment.

“He said the reason for opening a Jersey-based account was for “security” as it was “necessary to hold a proportion of wealth outside of Nigeria”.

“However, the bank asked Gen Useni to explain the source of the money and why he had transferred it to the accounts, as well as ‘supporting documentation to back up the provenance of the funds’ and a full explanation as to why the account was originally opened up under a different name.”

Bailiwick Express said although in correspondence the following year Gen. Useni said he dealt in property investment where he sold some and put some in rent and owned a shopping centre, two petrol stations and a domestic gas station, a farm and a rice mill, he provided no information about his income in the 1980s and 1990s.

The publication stated: “He (Useni) added that he had not set up the original account in a false name, rather he had used a ‘coded password name’ as advised by the person who had set it up on his behalf. “However, he did not explain why he had used ‘Tim Shani’, with Jersey’s Attorney General concluding that he did so in order to further distance himself from the ownership of assets that had a likely criminal origin.

“In a judgment handed down this morning setting out its decision to order the transfer of the £2m into the island’s Criminal Offences Confiscation Fund’, the Royal Court said: ‘The Attorney General believes that the Shani accounts were created to hold, hide and conceal bribes or other proceeds of corruption received by Useni during the period he held office.

“The payments into the Shani accounts were more likely than not for the purposes or on account of exercising political influence over the award of lucrative contracts to foreign and Nigerian companies for the supply of industrial or commercial services in Nigeria.

“If this conduct had occurred in Jersey, it would have constituted the customary law offence of misconduct in a public office.”

The report added that through a Jersey-based lawyer, Gen. Useni fought but failed to prevent the seizure.

He was also said to have explained the source of the funds in a written affidavit as follows: “In accordance with a culture of gift-giving in Nigeria, which is still accepted practice in Nigeria, government officials from time to time receive cash gifts from friends and well-wishers during festive seasons.

“These acts are similar to gifts being provided by Members of Parliament in England or corporate gifts being provided to directors/employees.

“The culture needs to be looked at in the context of when I was a government official, and at that material time, save there being a culture of gift-giving, there was no official code of conduct governing the issue.

“This could also be said to be true for the western governments, from what I know, so Nigeria should not be chastised or criticised for this.”

Explaining the use of the name of a fictitious person to set up the original account, Useni reportedly said: “The primary reason for this again was nothing sinister, but for my own protection. As you will understand from reviewing Nigeria’s history, it has had a number of coups, and we are now on our fifth republic.

“The governmental regimes are unstable, and if rulers came into office who are not friendly to my political persuasion, my wealth and safety could be on the line.”

He reportedly added that the money constituted savings for his retirement and there had not been a code of conduct in place in Nigeria at the time obliging him to declare it.

However, the Royal Court was not convinced by his explanations.

It said: “Essentially, [Gen Useni’s] case is that the source of the substantial sums paid into the bank accounts is cash gifts from friends, relatives and well-wishers on festive and other ceremonial occasions in accordance with Nigerian custom, but in the view of the Court, it is simply not credible that friends, relatives and well-wishers would make gifts to [Gen Useni], as a public official, of such magnitude to allow him not only to accumulate millions in these bank accounts, but to acquire the very substantial assets he said he owned in Nigeria.

“It is an explanation that verges on the absurd.”

It also found that there had been a code of conduct for public officials in place in Nigeria well before substantial amounts were paid into the Jersey accounts.

It concluded: “The affidavits of [Gen Useni] have not satisfied the Court that the property held in the bank accounts is not tainted property and on the application of the Attorney General, we will make a Forfeiture Order in relation to that property.”

The Court reportedly ordered that £45,000 be taken out of the amount seized to pay Standard Chartered Bank’s legal costs.

In 2020, Jersey returned more than £230m of money to Nigeria which had been laundered through the United States and the island by Gen. Abacha.

Daniel Sodiq

http://www.mercyflawlessmedia.com

162 thoughts on “UK Court Seizes £2m Cash Linked To Former FCT Minister, Jerry Useni”

  6. Are you bothered by of fatiguing every food and allay not seeing results? Run out of 10 pounds in a week with this miracle tonnage bereavement unravelling https://elevateright.com/product/1500mg-delta-8-gummies/ that’s shocking doctors everywhere. You at worst necessity the same pill a period to yearn overfed instantly and acquire the remains you’ve each dreamed of.

  7. Hello! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new apple iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Carry on the fantastic work!

  10. Are you done in of fatiguing every diet and allay not seeing results? Squander 10 pounds in a week with this miracle tonnage impoverishment dissolution https://elevateright.com/product/delta-8-moon-rocks/ that’s nauseous doctors everywhere. You on the contrary need bromide pill a time to yearn fat instantly and get the solidity you’ve continually dreamed of.

  13. Really nice pattern and fantastic content material, practically nothing else we require :D.Also visit my blog post – weed indoorshave – beauty-inc.ru –

  14. Are you spent of difficult every victuals and motionlessly not seeing results? Lose 10 pounds in a week with this miracle tonnage impoverishment unravelling https://elevateright.com/thca-flower/ that’s revolting doctors everywhere. You on the contrary need the same lozenge a day to char overfed instantly and acquire the solidity you’ve again dreamed of.

  18. I wanted to thank you for this fantastic read!! I definitely loved every little bit ofit. I’ve got you book marked to check out new things youpost?Also visit my blog: mpc-install.com

  21. Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board andI find It really useful & it helped me out much.I hope to give something back and help others like you aided me.

  39. Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a really well written article. I?ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I will certainly comeback.

  43. Are you done in of trying every diet and pacific not seeing results? Squander 10 pounds in a week with this miracle superiority impoverishment dissolution [url=https://elevateright.com/delta-11-gummies/ ]Heal your body naturally[/url] that’s stupefying doctors everywhere. You only need bromide pellet a light of day to burn stout instantly and acquire the solidity you’ve each dreamed of.

  52. Профессиональный сервисный центр по ремонту бытовой техники с выездом на дом.
    Мы предлагаем:ремонт крупногабаритной техники в москве
    Наши мастера оперативно устранят неисправности вашего устройства в сервисе или с выездом на дом!

  55. I just like the valuable information you provide for your articles.I’ll bookmark your blog and test again right here regularly.I am relatively certain I will be informed many new stuff right right here!Best of luck for the following!

  73. Hello, all is going fine here and ofcourseevery one is sharing facts, that’s in fact excellent, keep upwriting.my blog forum.charmanders-underground.com

  78. I am curious to find out what blog system you happen to be utilizing?I’m experiencing some minor security issues with my latestblog and I’d like to find something more risk-free. Do you have any suggestions?

  88. Hello there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter group?There’s a lot of people that I think would really appreciate your content.Please let me know. Thank you

  91. A fascinating discussion is worth comment.There’s no doubt that that you should publish more about this subject matter, itmight not be a taboo subject but usually people do not discuss such topics.To the next! Many thanks!!

  95. Good blog you’ve got here.. It’s difficult to find excellent writing like yours these days. I honestly appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!

  97. Sweet blog! I found it while surfing around on Yahoo News.Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in YahooNews? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there!Many thanks

  98. Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, andfound that it’s truly informative. I’m going to watch outfor brussels. I’ll appreciate if you continue this in future.Numerous people will be benefited from your writing.Cheers!

  117. I was recommended this blog by way of my cousin. I am now not sure whether or not this post is written viahim as no one else know such specific approximately my problem.You’re incredible! Thank you!

  124. Everyone loves what you guys tend to be up too. This sort of clever work and coverage! Keep up the wonderful works guys I’ve included you guys to my blogroll.

  125. Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your site and in accession capital to assert that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I will be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently fast.

  126. You can definitely see your skills in the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart.

  127. I truly wanted to make a small remark in order to express gratitude to you for those amazing guidelines you are writing at this website. My considerable internet investigation has finally been paid with pleasant facts and strategies to share with my two friends. I ‘d express that we site visitors are really lucky to exist in a perfect community with very many brilliant individuals with interesting guidelines. I feel extremely fortunate to have discovered your webpage and look forward to some more entertaining minutes reading here. Thank you again for all the details.

  128. I cling on to listening to the rumor speak about receiving boundless online grant applications so I have been looking around for the most excellent site to get one. Could you tell me please, where could i acquire some?

  130. Aw, this was a really nice post. In concept I want to put in writing like this moreover – taking time and actual effort to make a very good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and on no account seem to get one thing done.

  131. Hey very cool blog!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your website and take the feeds also…I’m happy to find a lot of useful information here in the post, we need work out more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

  132. The very heart of your writing whilst sounding reasonable at first, did not sit very well with me after some time. Somewhere within the sentences you were able to make me a believer unfortunately just for a short while. I however have a problem with your leaps in assumptions and you might do well to fill in all those breaks. In the event that you actually can accomplish that, I could certainly end up being impressed.

  133. I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your blog. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme? Fantastic work!

  134. I liked up to you’ll receive carried out right here. The cartoon is attractive, your authored material stylish. however, you command get bought an shakiness over that you want be handing over the following. sick undoubtedly come more in the past again since exactly the same just about very frequently inside of case you protect this hike.

  135. Hello my friend! I want to say that this post is awesome, nice written and include approximately all important infos. I would like to see more posts like this.

  136. I’m impressed, I have to say. Really not often do I encounter a blog that’s each educative and entertaining, and let me let you know, you have hit the nail on the head. Your idea is outstanding; the difficulty is something that not sufficient individuals are speaking intelligently about. I’m very happy that I stumbled across this in my search for something regarding this.

  138. Thanks for the auspicious writeup. It in truth used to be a amusement account it. Look complicated to far brought agreeable from you! However, how can we keep up a correspondence?

  139. Pretty great post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and wanted to mention that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing on your rss feed and I am hoping you write once more soon!

  142. Aw, this was an incredibly good post. Taking the time and actual effort to produce a really good articleÖ but what can I sayÖ I hesitate a whole lot and never manage to get anything done.

  145. Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s truly informative.I’m going to watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future.Lots of people will be benefited from your writing.Cheers!

  146. Hey just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the pictures aren’t loading properly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different browsers and both show the same results.

  151. I will immediately grasp your rss as I can’t in finding your email subscription hyperlink or newsletter service.Do you have any? Please permit me know in order that I could subscribe.Thanks.

  153. Howdy! This is my first visit to your blog!We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a communityin the same niche. Your blog provided us useful information to work on. You have done awonderful job!

Comments are closed.

Related Posts

NEWS/UPDATES

49-Year-Old Mum Who Beat Cancer Four Times Gets K!lled By Random Bullet Fired At Home

10 hours ago
Daniel Sodiq
NEWS/UPDATES

BREAKING: Labour Party Suspends Otti, Nwokocha, Kingibe, Others

6 days ago
Daniel Sodiq
NEWS/UPDATES

How I Lost My Parents, Daughter, Sister In Gas Explosion – Lagos Fashion Designer

2 weeks ago
Daniel Sodiq
NEWS/UPDATES

Mother Found Guilty Of Selling Daughter For $1,085 (Photo)

2 weeks ago
Daniel Sodiq