Abba Kyari.
Abba Kyari and his daughter, Ms Aisha Abba Kyari, are under probe in the United States of America (USA) in connection with Abacha loot.
NewsOne Nigeria reports that Abba Kyari was Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari before he was killed coronavirus complications in April while his daughter Aisha Abba Kyari is an Assistant Vice President at the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
According to News Express, the investigation was launched by the Washington-based US NIGERIA LAW GROUP, which has already written to the US State Department and US Congress over the matter in a letter dated May 7, 2020, which was signed by the Managing Partner, international human rights lawyer Emmanuel Ogebe.
The letter entitled “FOIA REQUEST RE NIGERIA ABACHA LOOT”, addressed to the Office of Information Programs and Services, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. reads: “Dear FOIA Officer:
“This is a request filed under the Freedom of Information Act.
“Date range of request: July 1, 2016, through January 30, 2020
“Description of Request:
“Please search the records of the Bureau of African Affairs and the office of the Secretary of State for all documents, including memos, cables, meeting readouts and specific requests from and involving the Chief of Staff to Nigeria’s President, Abba Kyari, regarding the return of the “Abacha loot” – monies stolen from Nigeria and forfeited to the US government.
“Please include any discussion or document acknowledging the fact that Abba Kyari’s daughter had been appointed Vice President of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Agency (NSIA) the very same agency to which the $311 million repatriated by the US to Nigeria is going and which agency is to be paid for managing the Abacha loot.
“Please provide any document showing whether this was cleared of any potential conflict of interest or nepotism.
“Please provide all documents that validate the statement last month by the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Tibor Nagy, that
“ “Kyari was a valued and respected interlocutor for the U.S. government and particularly for our leadership team in Abuja.
“ “We appreciate working with him on many important matters, including the return to the Nigerian people of over $300 million in funds stolen by Sani Abacha.
“ “He envisioned the funds going to three geographically disparate infrastructure projects as a way to unite Nigeria economically.”
“ “His dedication to this matter, to fighting corruption, and to countless other investments and policies for the future of Nigeria will leave a lasting impact on your country “
“Expeditious Handling:
“We are an international human rights law group conducting an anti-corruption investigation.
In light of the return of $311 million by the US to Nigeria last week and the likelihood that a family member of the interlocutor would be put in charge of the funds and potentially benefit financially as a result, we would like this responded to in a timely fashion.
“Thank you for your consideration,” the letter on Abba Kyari and his daughter Aisha Abba Kyari about Abacha loot added.