The country’s apex court, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed the bid by family members of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, following Government’s plan to reopen the criminal forfeiture proceedings against the ex-military general.
The Federal Government is bent on re-opening probe targeted at some family members over their alleged complicity in looting the nation’s treasury during Abacha’s administration.
According to Justice Emmanuel Agim of the Supreme Court, the case brought before the apex court lack merit and substance.
The Supreme Court upheld the judgments of both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, which had earlier endorsed the power of the Federal Government to reopen criminal forfeiture proceedings against the family.
The appeal marked: SC/641/2013 was filed by the eldest surviving son of the late Abacha, Mohammed and his brother, Abba (for themselves and on behalf of the family of Gen. Abacha).
Listed as respondents are the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Inspector General of Police (IGP), DCP P. Y. Hana (Chairman, Special Investigation Panel), the National Security Adviser (NSS) and Magistrate Sonja Nachbaur (of the Principality of Liechtenstein).