US Court Orders €5.64m Seized From American Arms Dealer Transferred To Nigerian Government
A U.S. federal judge has ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to transfer €5.64 million, confiscated from convicted American arms dealer Ara Dolarian, to the Nigerian government. The ruling was delivered on Tuesday, December 31, by Judge Jennifer L. Thurston of the Eastern District of California.
According to the judgment, the funds, seized in connection with Dolarian’s illicit arms dealings, will be returned to Nigeria through attorney Jovi Usude.
“The court hereby enters a final order of forfeiture, recognising the superior interest of petitioner Federal Republic of Nigeria in the funds forfeited in the amended preliminary order,” the judge ruled.
The case dates back to 2015, when Nigeria, under former President Goodluck Jonathan, sought to procure advanced weaponry to combat the Boko Haram insurgency and bolster security ahead of the general elections. With a U.S. ban on arms sales to Nigeria in place, the then-Chief of Army Staff, Sambo Dasuki, facilitated a deal with Dolarian to secure a range of military-grade weapons, including high-explosive bombs, rockets, and aircraft-mounted cannons.
The Nigerian government transferred €8.09 million for the procurement. However, instead of fulfilling the contract, Dolarian used the funds for personal luxury expenses, including purchasing a BMW and settling tax debts.
The FBI, alerted by Dolarian’s extravagant spending, launched an investigation that revealed he was an unlicensed arms dealer operating in violation of U.S. laws. The agency seized €5.74 million of the funds in 2015 and charged Dolarian with illegal arms dealing and money laundering.
In June 2019, Dolarian pleaded guilty, forfeiting his claim to the seized funds. Of the €8.09 million originally transferred, €0.94 million had already been spent on personal expenses.
Representing Nigeria, attorney Jovi Usude filed a petition to recover the seized funds, arguing that they were the property of the Nigerian government. Usude contended that the money had been intended for legitimate defense procurements and that Nigeria was unaware of Dolarian’s violations of U.S. laws.
“The funds sent by [Nigeria] were for the procurement of weapons on behalf of the Nigerian government,” Usude stated. “The Nigerian government was not aware that the funds were in violation of the laws of the United States Government.”
After years of legal disputes, Judge Thurston ruled in favor of Nigeria, affirming that the seized funds belonged to the Nigerian government and must be returned.
This ruling marks a significant victory for Nigeria in its ongoing efforts to reclaim assets tied up in international legal disputes. It underscores the nation’s commitment to safeguarding its resources and holding accountable those involved in financial misconduct.
