Close to $53 million in alleged illicit funds related to former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke is set to be returned to Nigeria from the United States. The US Department of Justice reported that this amount, precisely $52.88 million, was confiscated during ongoing investigations that date back several years regarding corruption linked to Alison-Madueke and her associates.

Alison-Madueke, who served as Nigeria’s oil minister from 2010 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan, has been at the center of numerous corruption allegations, which she continually denies. Allegations state that while in office, she awarded contracts in exchange for bribes, leading to her alleged enrichment through various luxury assets in the US, including a luxurious superyacht and multiple high-end properties in California and New York (AP News).

During a formal signing ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria’s Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi explained that the repatriated funds would primarily support public services; $50 million is expected to fund rural electrification programs, while the remainder will be allocated as a grant to the International Institute of Justice, enhancing the rule of law and combating corruption efforts in the country.

In a joint communication between the Nigerian authorities and the US government, officials stressed that these steps represent a significant move towards addressing the rampant corruption issues that plague the country's governance. The US ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, highlighted the critical need for **absolute accountability** concerning the management of these returned assets, advocating for transparency and careful monitoring to ensure they benefit the Nigerian populace effectively.

Alison-Madueke, who has been charged with various offenses in the UK as well, faces significant scrutiny as assets linked to her, including properties, jewelry, and luxury vehicles, have been seized domestically as well. Her case represents a broader struggle for justice in Nigeria against high-level corruption, particularly in the oil sector.

This current asset repatriation follows a previous return of approximately $20.6 million in assets linked to former military leader Gen. Sani Abacha, illustrating ongoing international efforts to return proceeds from corruption back to Nigeria.

For further details on this matter, refer to the original articles on BBC and AP News.