Chip off the old block: Abacha’s son faces trial in Switzerland for raiding public funds

Abba Abacha one of the sons of late Nigeria’s dictator Geberal Sani Abacha will face a new trial in Switzerland starting come July 4 on charges of involvement in a criminal organisation that raided public funds, his lawyer, Christian Luescher said Friday. According to Luescher Abba’s lawyer, his client wanted to come to Geneva to attend the trial. It would be recalled that during a previous trial in 2010, Abba did not attend, as he was unable to obtain a visa. The court convicted him in absentia, handing down a two-year suspended prison term and confiscating his assets. But he won an appeal over procedural irregularities and the fact that he was unable to obtain a visa in time. The Swiss Federal Tribunal therefore ordered the sentence annulled and a retrial. If he is unable to get a visa this time, the new trial would be delayed. The 43-year old Abba denies all charges leve.