By DAYO ADESULU
Adeosun’s 2018 Pushback Resurfaces Amid Renewed Debate
Fresh details have resurfaced on how former finance minister Kemi Adeosun blocked Malami lawyers’ payment of $16.9 million in 2018, a decision that sparked one of the most contentious financial accountability debates of the Buhari era.
Adeosun, who served as minister of finance between 2015 and 2018, had refused to endorse the payment sought by the then Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, for two lawyers allegedly hired to supervise the repatriation of the $321 million Abacha loot.
At the time, the repatriation was already nearing completion under an agreement with Swiss authorities, raising critical questions about why additional legal fees were still being requested.
Why Adeosun Declined the $16.9 Million Payment
TheCable, which broke the story in 2018, reported that Adeosun insisted on a clear justification before approving any disbursement. She argued that the job in question had already been completed by Swiss lawyer Enrico Monfrini, who had long been contracted by the Nigerian government to handle global recovery of Abacha funds.
Despite insistence from the justice ministry, she maintained her stance, refusing to append her approval for the controversial payment.
Her action, according to senior officials familiar with the matter, created serious tension within government circles. Nevertheless, she maintained that public funds could not be spent without due process or clear value.
How the Lawyers Entered the Picture
In 2016, Malami engaged two Nigerian lawyers — Oladipo Okpeseyi and Temitope Isaac Adebayo — for the repatriation of the funds. Both lawyers had ties to the former Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), one of the APC legacy parties. Malami had previously served as legal adviser to the CPC.
However, this engagement was considered questionable because the federal government had already paid significant legal fees to Monfrini and his partner Christian Luscher. These fees included:
4% of the recovered Luxembourg assets, and
$6.8 million for the Liechtenstein recovery effort.
Since Nigeria had already settled all foreign legal obligations, the expectation was that Malami would simply sign the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Switzerland to enable the final transfer of funds.
Claims, Counterclaims and the Pressure Campaign
In December 2017, TheCable published fresh findings on the suspicious re-engagement of new lawyers. Shortly after, a sponsored article attempted to discredit the news platform and claimed Monfrini was demanding an additional 20% before completing the job.
According to that version of events, Malami counter-offered 5%, which Monfrini allegedly rejected — paving the way for the engagement of Okpeseyi and Adebayo.
But in an email to TheCable in April 2018, Monfrini denied the allegation, insisting he had completed his assignment and never demanded extra payment. He later restated in extensive interviews that hiring new lawyers was both unnecessary and suspicious.
Despite the controversy, the $16.9 million legal fee was eventually paid, triggering widespread public criticism and renewed questions about transparency within the justice ministry.
Adeosun’s Exit and the Continuing Aftershocks
In September 2018, Kemi Adeosun resigned following the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate scandal. Although unrelated to the Abacha funds dispute, her exit revived scrutiny around major financial decisions taken under her watch — including her refusal to approve the Malami-linked payment.
To date, the circumstances surrounding the hiring of the lawyers, the justification for their fees, and the final approval remain subjects of public debate, especially as fresh political and anti-corruption conversations reshape the national space.
The resurfaced details also highlight the persistent concerns around leakages, opaque legal contracts, and political patronage that continue to overshadow Nigeria’s asset-recovery efforts.
With renewed calls for accountability in government spending, the 2018 episode stands as a reminder of the need for stronger oversight, transparent procurement processes, and the political will to resist questionable financial requests — even when they originate from the nation’s highest offices.
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