The Special Assistant to President Muhammdu Buhari on social media,
Lauretta Onochie on Monday said that the Federal Government has not
returned the £4.2 million recovered from former Gov. James Ibori to
Delta State.
It’s been reported that the Federal Government on Tuesday said
that the £4.2m looted by former Governor, James Ibori recently
repatriated from the United Kingdom has been returned to Delta State.
Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmed Idris, made the claim when he was grilled by the Reps committee on Assessment and Status of All Recovered Loots Movable and Immovable Assets from 2002 to 2020.
The claim was contrary to the position of the Minister of Justice and
Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), who had
earlier stated that the state would not benefit from the recovered loot.
Malami had explained that Delta state was not captured in the
agreements signed with the British Government, which was a precondition
for the release of the money.
According to him, the recovered loot will be used to execute other projects.
However, Onochie in a Facebook post on Wednesday explained that Delta
State did not receive the looted funds because Nigeria may lose the
opportunity to receive more looted funds, if it breaks the agreement it
signed with the British government.
She wrote, ”We know what we heard but we also know the facts. Let me
remind us. Before we start “admonishing, praising and decamping”, let’s
pause for a minute and breathe in and out!
”Was the recovered Ibori loot returned to the Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa-led Delta state government? No.
”Now, let me remind us. The Attorney General of the Federation,
Abubakar Mallami, the British High Commissioner, Catriona Laing and
other relevant agencies held a press conference openly telling the world
when the money would be returned, and the specific projects the money
was approved for. Openly.
”When it was delayed, the Attorney General informed Nigerians of the
reason for the delay. When the loot arrived, Nigerians were informed
too. The conditions under which the funds were repatriated, still stand.
Again, no penny was paid to the Delta State government.
”If we break the conditions for getting this chicken amount, how do we get the elephant amount that is still coming?
”The British High Commissioner is also keeping an open eye on those projects.
”I know what we all heard. But we also know the facts. Pres.
Muhammadu Buhari runs an open government. The Attorney General is part
of the open policy. Nothing hidden.
”Nigerians would be the first to know if he decides to break an
agreement made with Britain. I very much doubt it. He’s an Honourable
man.God bless Nigeria.”
