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Mr. John Davou, the 75-year-old grandfather, who is seeking a refund of N63,655 from Miss Hope Joseph, his estranged 20-year-old lover, has agreed to collect N53,655, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

Davou told the Hwolshe Area Court in Jos, Plateau State, at the resumed hearing of the case he filed last week that Joseph’s relations had “begged him” to reduce the amount to N53,655.

“Because of their plea, I have agreed to reduce N10,000 from the amount,’’ he told the court and added that Joseph’s relations were asking for an out-of-court settlement..

Davou, however, said that he would rather collect the money through the court and stressed that he would only accept full payment and not “piecemeal” payment.

The respondent, who had vowed not to refund the money at the first mention of the case on October 13, however, changed her stance on Wednesday as she promised to pay.

She, however, pleaded with her former lover to reduce the money to enable her to pay and also pleaded with the court to allow her to pay N5,000 monthly through the court over 10 months.

Abacha's son challenges Swiss court order to refund $350m to FG

Agency Reporter

An appeal by the son of ex military dictator Gen Sani Abacha, Abba, against a court order to return $350m in illegally gained assets has begun in Switzerland.

Photos: right late Sani Abacha, below son of the dictator abba abacha

Abba Abacha was also convicted of being a member of a criminal organisation and given a suspended custodial sentence, according to the BBC.

Switzerland began investigating the Abacha family in 1999 and has so far handed back about $700m to Nigeria.

The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice believes that Sani Abacha, who ruled from 1993 until his death in 1998, may have stolen $2.2bn.

The appeal started on Monday at a court in Geneva, officials say.

However, Swiss newspaper LeTemps reports that Abacha, who is currently in Nigeria, would not be attending the hearing.

He was refused a visa to come to Switzerland because he did not apply for it in time, the newspaper says.

The Swiss authorities pursued Abba Abacha for six years before extraditing him from Germany in 2005.

He was finally convicted by a court in Geneva in November 2009.

Other Reports:

A police court in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday began hearing in an appeal filed by the 41-year-old son of the late dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha, Mr. Abba Abacha, against an order seeking to seize $350m in stolen funds from him.Swiss newspaper, Le Temps, reports that Abba was not in court because he did not apply for a visa in time. The report said his lawyer asked for an adjournment to enable him to be present.

The British Broadcasting Corporation reports that Swiss authorities pursued Abba for six years before extraditing him from Germany in 2005. He was finally convicted by a court in Geneva in November 2009.Abba was also convicted of being a member of a criminal organisation and given a suspended custodial sentence.He was also ordered to return $350m, which was collected with help from Luxembourg and the Bahamas.Le Temps reports that Swiss prosecutors alleged that Abba used false identities to open more than 30 bank accounts in Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein and the Bahamas.

The funds allegedly belonged to his late father and close relations.Over two billion Swiss francs were deposited in Switzerland.Switzerland began investigating the Abacha family in 1999 and has so far returned about $700m to Nigeria. The former head of state, who died in June 1998, is believed to have stolen $2.2bn in public funds, which he stashed in various banks around the world.Since 1999, Switzerland has restored over $600m to Nigeria.Le Temps reports that members of the Abacha family used various means to move public funds out of Nigeria.