The Federal Government has said that the £4.2m looted funds recovered by the British Government from Ex-Delta Governor, James Ibori has been returned to Delta.
The Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Ahmed Idris confirmed this development on Tuesday in Abuja when he appeared before the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee on Assessment and Status of All Recovered Loots.
Idris told the Committee such funds looted from the treasury of a state are always returned to the state.
He also added that states can sue the Federal Government to recover such funds.
The Nigerian Government had on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, received €4.2 million Euros looted funds recovered by the British Government from the family members and associates of the former governor.
Abubakar Malami, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, had confirmed the development while stating that the amount was credited into the designated Federal Government account with its naira equivalent.
But Malami had on March 9 said the loot would be used for the construction of the second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kano road, and Lagos-Ibadan Express road and not returned to the Delta State Government where it was pilfered from.
However, the Accountant-General of the Federation said any recovery arising from looted funds from a particular state would go directly to the states.
“It was paid to Delta State,” he said when asked where the money was diverted to. “So such recoveries go specifically to those states. Honourable Chairman, any recovery arising from the looted funds from a particular state goes to the state. The state governors will not even allow this to fly.”
He added, “Some recoveries are for some state governments, specific state governments. I know there was a time recovery was made on behalf of Plateau State, there was one for Bayelsa, there is one for Delta,” he said when asked where the money was diverted to.
“You know they will not. They will take the Federal Government to court for holding their money. So we don’t joke or play with that, we pay them their money.”
