Delta State Government has denied receiving £4.2 million looted by its former governor, James Ibori from the Federal Government.
It would be recalled that Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris on Tuesday while appearing before the Senate committee investigating the status of recovered loot noted that the fund has been returned to the state.
Read Also: £4.2m Recovered James Ibori Loot Paid To Delta Govt – Accountant General Reveals
However, the Chief Press Secretary to the state government, Olisa Ifejika, on Wednesday countered the Accountant General’s claim, insisting the oil-rich state is yet to receive the money.
He expressed;
We appreciate the efforts of the Federal Government to return the recovered loot to Delta State where it rightly belongs. But the truth is that the money has not hit the Delta State government’s account.
We saw it yesterday like every other Nigerian when the Accountant General of the Federation Ahmed Idris while appearing before the House of Reps committee on recovered loot made that statement and there was this avalanche of enquires to know whether that money has come to us and the truth is that the money has not come.
Read Also: FG Receives €4.2m Loot Recovered From James Ibori
“We are happy that they have shown willingness to return send the money and we know that very soon, the money will come,” Ifejika said while addressing journalists at the Government House in Asaba, the state capital.
He assured that Delta State government will ensure that the funds are judiciously utilised to improve infrastructure across the state, once received.
The loot – £4.2 million – was seized from the associates of convicted former Governor of Delta State, Ibori by the United Kingdom and recently returned to Nigeria.
The recovered loot was recently received by the Federal Government from the United Kingdom.
Idris while appearing before the committee investigating the status of recovered loot stated that “all recovered funds that belong to the respective states are paid directly to the states.”
When asked specifically if the Ibori loot was returned to Delta State, he responded that;
It was paid to the state, it was paid to Delta State. Any recovery that is arising from any state, goes to that state. State governors will not even allow it to fly, they will take the federal government to court. We pay them their money.
The Accountant General’s response contradicts the earlier position of the Federal government on the recovered loot.
Read Also: We Expect £4.2m Ibori Loot From UK Govt Soon – FG
Earlier in March, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami said Ibori loot would be used for the construction of second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kano road, and Lagos-Ibadan Express road and not returned to the Delta State Government where it was pilfered from.
