Ara Dolarian Case: US Court Orders FBI To Refund $6m to Nigeria

In one of several cases instituted by the Nigerian government to protect its international assets, the US Court Eastern District of California, has ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, to pay $6m seized from convicted controversial arms dealer, Ara Dolarian, to the country.

The judgement was handed down on Tuesday, December 31.

Judge Thurston who gave the judgement, averred that the court is left with no other option but to rule in favour of Nigeria having recognised it's superiority of interest.

“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.”

She further ordered that the seized funds be paid to the country through the arms dealer, Jovi Usude, who filed the case on behalf of the West African nation, arms dealer cum lawyer, Jovi Usude.

Usude approached the court with a petition in 2021 praying it to set aside the forefeiture by the FBI , insisting that the funds belong to Nigeria rather than Dolarian.

“The funds sent by ‘S.E.l’ were for the procurement of weapons on behalf of the Nigerian government. Furthermore, the ‘CLAIMANT THE FRN’ was not aware that the funds ‘S.E.I and it (sic) agents were in violation of the laws of the United States Government,” Mr Usude argued while briefing the court in 2022.

Following the successful presentation and arguments which lasted for several years, the presiding judge, Ms Thurston, ruled that the money be transferred to Nigeria.

The Dolarian matter began in 2015, months after the former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, sought to ward off a U.S. ban on arms sales to Nigeria by contracting Dolarian to procure sophisticated weapons, including explosive bombs, rockets, military grade firearms, and among others, aircraft-mounted cannons, amounting to $8.6m, to prosecute the war against insurgent, Boko Haram.

The money was transferred to his account. However, Dolarian reportedly began using the funds on himself, acquiring luxury assets, including a brand-new BMW vehicle.