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President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday thanked the Switzerland Government for returning stolen funds that was stashed by corrupt govt officials in their country to Nigeria. The President said, he was highly grateful to Switzerland Government. For their relentless support in revitalizing Nigerian economy through return of the stolen fund that was in their possession as well as helping the country in the fight of Boko-haram insurgency in the north-east.

The statement was made while receiving a letter of credibility from the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr George Steiner, at the presidential villa Abuja.

The President in his words, “We are grateful to the Swiss government for allowing the illegally stolen funds to be brought back to Nigeria,” as quoted by Garba Shehu, the Buhari senior special Assistant on media and publicity.


While responding, the Ambassador affirmed Buhari that Switzerland will always support Nigerian government in its determination to end the boko-haram conflict as well as addressing the humanitarian crises as it relate to the Internally Displaced Persons.

Steiner added, “We have strong and solid relations with Nigeria.


“It is an honour and privilege for us to contribute to issues of importance in the country.”


It could be recalled that the two countries has a long negotiations on how stolen funds shall be returned, Switzerland returned $322.5m ( N116.1bn) Abacha loot back to Nigeria in December, 2017. The money came with an interest of $1.5m. The original Abacha loot amount stashed away was $321m.


Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, had confirmed the receipt of the said amount by Nigerian government.


Also speaking, , Ambassador Pio Wennubst, Assistant Director-General and Head, Global Cooperation Department, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, said the money was indeed returned.


Meanwhile, Buhari also received letter of commendation from the Ambassador of Belgium to Nigeria, Dr Daniel Dargent.

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