THE ABACHA FAMILY’S BID TO HALT ASSET FORFEITURE PROCEEDINGS WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.

The Supreme Court dismissed an appeal filed by family members of former President General Sani Abacha, seeking to halt proceedings aimed at recovering more loot traced to them, yesterday.

Mohammed Abacha, the late leader’s son, sought to halt the re-opening of criminal forfeiture proceedings against his father’s assets and those linked to some members of his family, which were viewed as the proceeds of treasury looting during Abacha’s rule between 1993 and 1998.

The Supreme Court, in a decision read by Emmanuel Agim, held that the lower courts’ concurrent findings of facts in the case were unassailable.

Agim dismissed the appeal and ordered the parties to bear the legal fees.

The eldest surviving son of the deceased dictator, Mohammed, and his brother, Abba, filed the SC/641/2013 appeal for themselves and their family.