Home - The African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development.

UN-House

THE AFRICAN CENTER FOR GOVERNANCE, ASSET RECOVERY, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Interview with Mrs Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu By the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption ( AUABC)

Interview with Mrs Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, Researcher, School of Law, Politics and Sociology, University of Sussex and an asset recovery expert by the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption ( AUABC) At the African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery & Sustainable Development, we recognize the critical role civil society plays in promoting transparency and accountability. Our Founder and Executive Director, Mrs Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, a Postgraduate Researcher at the University of Sussex and a leading expert in asset recovery, emphasizes the importance of involving civil society actors in the monitoring and management of recovered assets. In her interview with the African Union […]

EFCC Restitutes Fraud Victims: A Milestone in Nigeria’s Anti-Corruption Efforts

On February 21, 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to combating financial crimes by giving over $132,000 and ₦78 million to victims of fraud from the United States, Spain, and Switzerland. The handover, which took place on February 21, 2025, at EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja, was led by Executive Chairman Ola Olukoyede. This move is not just about returning stolen assets—it reinforces Nigeria’s stance against economic and financial crimes while strengthening international cooperation. The restitution of funds, vehicles, and real estate to victims highlights EFCC’s proactive role in ensuring justice and rebuilding trust in the […]

Belgium’s Return of Assets to Uzbekistan Fails to Meet International Standards and Increases Risk of Future Misuse- Statement by Central Asia Due Diligence and Uzbek Forum for Human Rights

The Central Asia Due Diligence and Uzbek Forum for Human Rights recently published a statement regarding the Gulnara Karimova case in Belgium. The statement addresses Belgium’s recovering assets that came from bribery purportedly demanded from Uzbek telecom companies by Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of former President Islam Karimov. A court in Brussels ordered the forfeiture of $216 million in accounts held at the local Bank of New York Mellon branch in March 2025. Half of this sum was then given to the Belgian treasury by Belgium’s Central Agency for Seizure and Confiscation, and the other half was given straight to […]

Strengthening Legal Sector Accountability: African Center Hands Over ICT Equipment & Launches AML Web Portal to NBA AMLC

On March 3rd, 2025, a significant milestone in Nigeria’s anti-money laundering efforts was achieved as the African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development, in partnership with the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) and supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), handed over ICT equipment and launched a new Anti-Money Laundering (AML) web portal for the Nigerian Bar Association’s Anti-Money Laundering Committee (NBAAMLC). The event, held at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja, showcased a unified commitment to ensuring that Nigeria meets international AML standards and works toward removal from the FATF grey list. […]

Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu to Speak at the Commonwealth Law Conference (CLC) Malta 2025

We’re excited to announce that Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu—University of Sussex scholar, Executive Director of the African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery & Sustainable Development, and Convenor of the CLA Anti-Corruption Sub-Committee—will be a featured speaker at the Commonwealth Law Conference 2025 in Malta! On April 5th, 2025, Juliet will join an esteemed panel on Asset Recovery, Enforcement, and Sanctions to share her expertise on financial intelligence, cross-border asset recovery, the impact of sanctions, and the enforcement of third-party rights. This panel will take place during the Family Law Symposium, co-hosted by the CLA Family Law Committee, IAFL, and FLBA under the […]

Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu Named Chair of the UNCAC Coalition’s Victims of Corruption Working Group

We are pleased to announce that our Executive Director, Madam Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, has been appointed as Chair of the UNCAC Coalition’s Victims of Corruption Working Group. The UNCAC Coalition is a global alliance of civil society organizations dedicated to promoting and monitoring the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). Through its working groups, the Coalition ensures that governments and stakeholders uphold their commitments, implementing effective anti-corruption measures and ensuring the proper management and use of recovered assets to benefit society. The UNCAC Coalition’s Victims of Corruption (VoC) working group seeks to facilitate discussions, the exchange of information […]

Tackling Money Laundering: Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu Leads AML Compliance Review at #CLC2025!

Join Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, University of Sussex scholar, Executive Director of the African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery & Sustainable Development, and Convenor of the CLA Anti-Corruption Subcommittee, at the Commonwealth Law Conference 2025 in Malta! On April 8, 2025, as Chair of the CLA Anti-Corruption Committee, she will lead a lunch break review on Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance in the legal profession. � Panelists: Quinton Newcomb – FieldFisher, London Steven Hill – Executive Director, International Institute for Justice & the Rule of Law Lady Anande Trotman-Joseph – Chairperson, Commonwealth Association of Integrity Commissions & Anti-Corruption Bodies This session will examine […]

The African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery, and Sustainable Development (“the African Center”) is an independent civil society organisation based in Nigeria. We work to institute good governance and accountability systems at the local, state, and federal levels of government. We pay particular attention to Goal 16, which aims to create solid institutional foundations for sustainable development.

Explore Our 2023–2024 Annual Report
Discover the impact, milestones, and future vision of the African Center in our latest Annual Report.

Improving Government Accountability

The Recovery and Return of Stolen Assets

The Implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Vision

We envision a world free from illicit financial flows, where proceeds of crime are recovered and returned to the victims of corruption to improve livelihood and reduce poverty and inequality.

Mission

Our mission is to reinforce the links between governance, asset recovery, and sustainable development goals in line with Agenda 2030 and the promotion of the rule of law, strengthening justice institutions, preventing illicit financial flows, recovering stolen assets, and social reuse of stolen assets.