Trump Administration Disbands DOJ Task Force Tracking Abacha Loot
In a significant move, U.S. President Donald Trump has disbanded the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, an elite Department of Justice (DOJ) team responsible for tracing and recovering billions of dollars looted by Nigeria’s late military ruler, Sani Abacha, and other international corruption cases.
According to Peoples Gazette, the decision was quietly implemented earlier this week by newly appointed Attorney General Pam Bondi following Trump’s authorization. This move is part of the administration’s broader efforts to wind down several government programs.
The Kleptocracy Initiative, established in 2010, played a key role in tracking stolen assets, including ongoing litigation involving Abacha’s loot linked to Atiku Bagudu, Nigeria’s budget minister under President Bola Tinubu. The disbandment could complicate efforts to locate additional undiscovered Abacha-linked funds, which investigators still believe exist.
The DOJ has yet to clarify how it plans to handle ongoing cases in U.S. courts or whether it will continue cooperating with parallel asset recovery efforts in the United Kingdom and other jurisdictions.
The Gazette reached out to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) spokesperson Dele Oyewale and presidential aide Bayo Onanuga for comments, but no responses have been received.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has defended the decision, stating it will shift focus toward dismantling narcotics and human trafficking networks instead.
