Chief Dan Etete, former minister of petroleum resources under the Sani Abacha administration, who in 2007 was sentenced by a French court to three years in prison in absentia and a fine of 300,000 euros ($440,000) for money laundering, has been cleared by the government of France. Etete was convicted seven years ago for using 15 million euros in funds obtained fraudulently to purchase properties in 1999 and 2000, including a chateau in northwest France, a Paris apartment and a luxury villa in the chic Paris suburb of Neuilly. The court ordered the former minister to pay 150,000 euros to Nigeria in compensation for moral prejudice and 20,000 euros in fees.

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“The letter dated March 17, read: “As you know, Mr. Dan Etete, eminent personality in Nigeria, is a great friend of France and has been so for many years. In spite of the judicial vicissitudes that he has unfortunately known in the beginning of years 2000, he is now free of any constraint and he complies with the fiscal and legal French administrations.

Etete’s solicitors, Pierre Benoliel, have written a letter to the French Ambassador in Nigeria, to accord the former minister recognition and deal with him as free man with no constraints.