Authorities in Jersey — a British Crown Dependency located in the Channel Islands between the United Kingdom and France — are set to return more than $9.5 million (£7 million) in recovered corruption proceeds to the Nigerian government.

The funds are expected to be channelled into infrastructure development projects across Nigeria.

The repatriation follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in December between the Attorney General for Jersey, Mr. Mark Temple, KC, and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The MoU builds on two previous agreements between Nigeria and Jersey that facilitated the return of more than $300 million held in a bank account on the island.

Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, said the recovered funds would be utilised strictly in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

“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 or assets moved to foreign jurisdictions,” Mr. Fagbemi said, according to the BBC.

He added that the money would support the construction of the final phases of a major highway linking Abuja and Lagos.

For Mr. Temple, the repatriation highlights “the strength of our civil forfeiture legislation as a powerful tool in the fight against corruption”.

In 2024, Jersey’s Royal Court ruled that the funds were “more likely than not” the proceeds of a corrupt scheme in which third-party contractors diverted government resources “for the benefit of senior Nigerian officials and their associates”.

Although the funds were recovered during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, their return to Nigeria was delayed due to protracted legal proceedings.