HL Deb 02 November 2000 vol 618 cc111-2WA
Lord Moynihan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether four months ago the Nigerian Government requested assistance from the British Government to trace money looted and then laundered by Nigeria's former ruler, General Abacha, as reported in the Financial Times of 20 October; and if so, what was the Government's response. [HL4325]

Lord Bassam of Brighton

It is the Home Office's practice to treat letters of request for assistance in criminal matters from foreign governments confidentially, as communications between two states. We are normally therefore unable to confirm or deny that we have received a request.

However, given the press coverage already received by this matter, we can confirm that in June 2000 the Home Office received a request from the Nigerian Government to trace and freeze assets alleged to have been illegally removed from Nigeria by the late Sani Abacha and his family and associates.

Our response was to consider the request in the context of the requirements of the UK legislation governing mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, in this case the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Designated Countries and Territories) Order 1991, as amended. We have asked for further information from the Nigerian Government, and it is this information which we are now awaiting. To proceed without having established all the relevant facts could render the Secretary of State liable to legal challenge through a judicial review.

Lord Moynihan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, at the request of the Nigerian authorities, Switzerland and Liechtenstein have frozen funds believed to have been looted by General Abacha, Nigeria's former ruler, and his family, and deposited in accounts in those countries; and whether the United Kingdom Government have agreed to freeze similar funds believed to have been deposited in the United Kingdom. [HL4326]

Lord Bassam of Brighton

The Home Office understands that Switzerland and Liechtenstein have frozen assets alleged to have been removed from Nigeria by the late General Abacha and his associates. The UK Government can agree to freeze any similar funds that may have been deposited in the United Kingdom only once they have ensured that all the requirements for carrying out the request for asset freezing have been satisfied.