Nigeria Denies US Court Authorised Seizure of $21m in Legal Battle Over JP Morgan Funds
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has categorically denied reports claiming that a United States District Court has authorised the seizure of $21 million from Nigeria’s account with JP Morgan. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Justice described these claims as “completely false” and criticisedmedia outlets for publishing the story without seeking official clarification.
The controversy stems from a report by Peoples Gazette, which alleged that Louis E. Williams, a British-Nigerian businessman, had obtained a court order to seize Nigerian funds in connection with a long-standing legal dispute. The ministry’s statement firmly rejected this version of events, challenging media platforms to provide any evidence of such an order.
“The Ministry wishes to set the record straight regarding an inaccurate publication by Peoples Gazette and others alleging that a US District Court has authorised a certain Louis E. Williams to seize $21 million from Nigeria’s account with JP Morgan,” the statement read.
Fagbemi further noted that this report followed earlier misleading claims by the same outlet in August 2023, which stated that a UK court had authorised the seizure of funds held by Nigeria’s Central Bank in New York. He emphasised that none of the media outlets that published these claims had sought a response from the Nigerian government. “Indeed, the ministry challenges these media outlets to publish a copy of the US court order authorising the seizure,” the statement said.
Clarifying the legal proceedings, the Attorney General pointed out that the US court had not approved any seizure of Nigerian government funds. Instead, the court had simply refused Nigeria’s preliminary motion to dismiss the case based on sovereign immunity. This procedural decision means the case will now move forward to a substantive hearing.
“The implication of the ruling rendered on August 21, 2024, is that the case will proceed to a hearing on its merits, where both parties will present evidence and legal arguments before a final decision is made,” the ministry explained.
Williams, who claims to have been defrauded by Nigeria’s domestic intelligence services in the 1980s, has sought to recover $21 million in damages through this legal action. The Nigerian government, however, has filed an appeal against the court’s decision to proceed with the case and has launched a robust legal defence, including separate proceedings against Williams for fraud.
The Justice Ministry expressed confidence in its legal position, stating that Williams’ efforts to “strong-arm” the Nigerian government would ultimately fail. “Nigeria remains optimistic that these attempts will come to nought,” the statement concluded.
This latest development highlights the ongoing complexity of Nigeria’s legal battles abroad, as the government seeks to protect its financial assets and reputation on the international stage.
