The United States government has repatriated $52.88 million to Nigeria from assets linked to former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke and her associates. The agreement was signed Friday in Abuja between Nigeria's Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi and US Ambassador Richard Mills Jr.

The recovered funds will support two major initiatives: $50 million will fund rural electrification projects through the World Bank, while $2.88 million will support counter-terrorism training programs across Africa through the International Institute for Justice.

The assets were seized as part of a larger corruption investigation involving Alison-Madueke and Nigerian businessmen Olajide Omokore and Kolawole Aluko. US authorities found that between 2011 and 2015, Omokore and Aluko paid bribes to Alison-Madueke in exchange for lucrative oil contracts. The proceeds, exceeding $100 million, were laundered through the US to purchase luxury real estate and assets, including a 65-meter superyacht called Galactica Star.

The case was pursued under the US Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative. Justice Minister Fagbemi praised the US government's cooperation and requested similar support for pending repatriation cases, citing Nigeria's urgent need for the funds.

The Nigerian government has implemented oversight measures to ensure transparent use of the returned assets, including regular reporting requirements for both the World Bank and IIJ projects.

Alison-Madueke, who left Nigeria in 2015 and is believed to be in the UK, faces ongoing criminal charges in Nigeria alongside Omokore and Aluko for related corruption allegations.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​