Arkwright, who spoke while delivering a keynote address at the first annual conference on combating financial fraud, cybecrime and other cross-border crimes today in Abuja, explained that there are legal procedures to observe in returning stolen funds, adding that the government of UK would accelerate the process.
He also said that the UK government has been supportive of the fight against graft in Nigeria, adding that his home country committed £7 million to Nigeria to stamp out corruption in the last five years.
Arkwright said that recent actions of UK law enforcement agencies demonstrated that there was no impunity in the UK system.
”I am aware of criticism – unjust though it may be – that the UK has not returned Nigerian stolen assets quickly enough. As you will appreciate, there are legitimate legal hurdles which need to be overcome, But we are looking actively at how we can accelerate that legal process. In any event, recent actions by the UK law enforcement agencies demonstrate clearly that there is no impunity in the UK for those who seek to conceal stolen assets in the UK.” [myad]
