Family and close associates of the late Nigerian dictator, General Sani Abacha, have lost their bid to recover $800 million seized by the Federal Government, a report said.

According to a Channels Television report, the funds, allegedly looted by Abacha’s family during his time in power, was recovered by the General Abdulsalami Abubakar-led government.

In a bid to recover the seized stolen funds, Abacha’s family, as well as 19 companies owned by the former military ruler, had gone to an appellate court seeking to overturn an earlier decision by a Federal High Court i in Abuja to dismiss their claim on the loot.

Justice Suleiman Galadima, delivering the judgement at the Supreme court, dismissed the appeal as “incompetent and lacking in merit”, according to Channels Television.