African Center Praises UK High Court Verdict in Abigail Katung Money Laundering Case: – Advocates for Transparent Return of Recovered Funds to Aid Nigeria’s Underprivileged
Abuja, Nigeria – June 11, 2025: The African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development has hailed the recent ruling by the UK High Court ordering the forfeiture of over £1 million luxury property linked to Abigail Katung, wife of a Nigerian senator, in a high-profile money laundering case. The court found that the assets were acquired through illicit means, marking a significant victory in the global fight against corruption.
In a statement issued by Juliet Ibekakwu-Nwagwu LLB., LL.M., M.A., Executive Director of the African Center and Chair of The Commonwealth Lawyers Association Anti-Corruption sub-Committee, she praised the UK judicial system for its diligence in upholding the rule of law and securing a critical win for global anti-corruption efforts, and urged the Nigerian government to ensure that the recovered funds are repatriated and used transparently to support social programs for the country’s underprivileged citizens, in line with Chapter V of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), which emphasizes the return of assets to the country of origin as a fundamental principle.
“This verdict sets a precedent for international accountability. We are therefore calling on the Nigerian authorities to demonstrate their commitment by ensuring that repatriated funds are used specifically for social protection programs that benefit Nigeria’s underprivileged and vulnerable communities, in line with the Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) principles of transparency, accountability, and public participation in the use of returned assets,” she said.
“The African Center reaffirms its dedication to its primary mission of ensuring that recovered assets from corrupt individuals are returned to the people and used to meet development needs. As part of this commitment, the organization will persist in monitoring asset recovery efforts, advocating for legislative reforms in Nigeria and across Africa, and collaborating with global civil society partners to guarantee that stolen assets are repatriated and utilized for the benefit of the public.”
The High Court of Justice, King’s Bench Division in the United Kingdom (UK) recently ordered the forfeiture of a £1 million property owned by Abigail Katung, Lord Mayor of Leeds and wife of Nigerian Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, over suspicions of money laundering. The property was seized by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in 2016.
Abigail Katung was charged by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) for owning a property formerly owned by Mansoor Hussain, a businessman previously accused of laundering money for organized crime bosses in Northern England. In 2015, Katung agreed to purchase the property from Hussain for £1 million, paying a £400,000 deposit in two installments.
During her trial, Katung claimed that the funds used for the purchase came from her husband’s earnings and were transferred through Nigeria’s black market due to foreign exchange restrictions. However, the NCA argued that the entire property, including the deposit paid by Katung, was funded with proceeds from criminal activity, as a result it qualifies as recoverable property under the UK Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA).
The court deemed her documents insufficient and her explanations inconsistent. Delivering judgement on June 6, 2025, Justice Robert Jay concluded that her actions were intended to circumvent Nigerian forex laws, and ruled in favor of the forfeiture order, with the deposit being non-refundable. While Katung was not found guilty of knowingly engaging in criminal activity, the NCA will take control of the property and may pursue further legal remedies.
