DATE=1/21/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SWITZERLAND / NIGERIA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-258294
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Switzerland has agreed to help the Nigerian
government recover hundreds of millions of dollars
stashed in secret bank accounts by Nigeria's late
dictator, General Sani Abacha. Lisa Schlein reports
from Geneva.
TEXT: Switzerland has already frozen 645-million
dollars in secret bank accounts belonging to Sani
Abacha and his associates. An investigation into Mr.
Abacha's assets is continuing. The Swiss federal
office says it is possible that more money deposited
in Swiss bank accounts by the late Nigerian dictator,
may be uncovered. Nigeria claims Mr. Abacha and his
associates stole more than two-billion U-S dollars
from central bank coffers alone.
A Swiss investigating judge says the Nigerian
general's frozen assets are in 140 accounts in 13
banks in Geneva and Zurich. A lawyer representing the
Nigerian government says the government also has begun
legal steps to recover money from Britain, France,
Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein.
Earlier this month, Nigeria asked Switzerland for
legal assistance in recovering General Abacha's funds.
But, before the Swiss agreed to give its formal
approval, Nigeria had to provide proof of a link
between investigations in Nigeria and the blocked
assets. This week, Nigeria complied with this
request.
Last October, Swiss authorities ordered a freeze on
Mr. Abacha's accounts following a provisional request
from Nigeria. A Swiss police spokesman says it is
possible that more funds will be frozen. He says
investigators have concrete information concerning
funds.
The 645-million dollars in the secret bank accounts
sets a record for money looted from national
treasuries and laundered in Swiss banks. /// Opt ///
The previous high was set by the late Philippines
President, Ferdinand Marcos. In 1986, the Swiss
government froze 250-million U-S dollars belonging to
the Philippine president. A decade later, the
government returned to the Philippines nearly 600-
million U-S dollars belonging to Mr. Marcos. /// End
Opt ///
General Abacha's five-year rule ended abruptly in June
1998 after he suffered an apparent heart attack.
(Signed)
NEB/LS/GE/JP
21-Jan-2000 12:01 PM EDT (21-Jan-2000 1701 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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