$5 Billion Is a Lot to “Divert”

By Matthew Richardson

International investigators and enforcement institutions often receive an outsized share of coverage and interest in the anti-corruption field. However, it is worth remembering that national authorities, particularly in the developing world, are on the frontlines of the world’s anti-corruption efforts. These institutions and individuals are entrusted with significant power and responsibility, so the sting is particularly intense when the misappropriations investigator in Nigeria is itself subject to investigation for misappropriation of funds, potentially “diverting” as much as $5 billion in the course of its operating activities.