BEVERLY HILLS, March 25, (THEWILL) – The Delta State Government has asked the Federal Government to return to the state the £4.2 million ‘James Ibori loot’ being repatriated to Nigeria by the United Kingdom.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa made this known on Wednesday while featuring on a Channels Television programme, ‘Politics Today’.
Okowa said, he has spoken with the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and that he is working with the state’s attorney-general on ways to resolve the matter and return the repatriated loot to the state.
“I have spoken with the attorney-general of the federation. My attorney-general went to have a meeting with him. I think that we are working and we are likely to come on the same page. We have written a formal letter of protest to Mr President,” the Governor said.
The protest by the state is in reaction to the decision of the Federal Government to spend the funds on federal projects.
Nigeria and the UK had signed a memorandum of understanding on March 9, for the repatriation of the funds, allegedly stolen by Ibori, a former Delta State.
But the development became mired in controversy shortly after the MoU was signed when the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, revealed the money will be spent by the Federal Government.
Governor Okowa, however, expects the Federal Government to take a similar route as the UK Government by returning the money to the source it was pilfered from.
“In the same manner of the relationship created between the UK and Nigeria, we also expect that the Nigerian Government will do the same thing by being magnanimous to return the money back to the source, which is Delta State.
“We have made two suggestions; return the money directly to us or apply it directly to projects that we feel are of importance and are in Delta State so that Deltans can directly benefit from the repatriated funds and I don’t think anybody can fault that line (lof thinking”, he said.
Ultimately, Governor Okowa believes President Buhari will grant the state’s request as that is the right thing to do.
“I do believe that with the approach that we have undertaken it is unlikely that they will refuse the request. It is a strong appeal,” he said.
The governor rubbished claims that if the money is returned to Delta State “it will develop wings”.
“I don’t see how the money will develop wings anyway. That is why we have directly put down projects – three projects where this money can be applied directly to such a manner that it is something you can investigate.”
Explaining the contents of the letter to the President, Information Commissioner, Charles Aniagwu said it contained an appeal to the Presidency on the need to complete ongoing infrastructure projects and an assurance that the money will be ploughed into completion of the Ughelli-Asaba dualisation project.
He also listed the ongoing Warri/Uwvie Storm Drain as another project for completion with the looted fund.
“The state needs huge injection of funds to ensure its (Warri/Uwvie Storm Drain) completion”, Aniagwu said.
He added: “The letter did not say more than Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said on television. The letter simply explained to the Presidency why the money should come to Delta. It said we have got infrastructure projects which are ongoing and we are saying that federal government should please support us.”
“We need more money for our projects. For instance, the Federal government paid us part of the money for the Ughelli-Asaba dualisation project which ex-governor Uduaghan started and we put all the money back into the project. This particular money will help us push it through.
“Also, the letter highlighted the need to deploy part of the money into the Warri/ Uwvie Storm Water Drain project. That money will in no small measure help in its completion.”
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