Ibori Loot: We are yet to see FG alert — Delta State Government

Delta State government says they are yet to receive the loot of former governor James Ibori that UK returned to Federal Government.

James Ibori will go to jail due to criminal offense of 2012 money laundering.

Accountant General of the state, Joy Enwa speaks to Wazobia FM that she receives information that FG returns the loot to Delta state in the media.

“I don’t know what account they said they paid in the money but the State hasn’t received any returned loot to that tune,” she said.

The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris says FG have returned the £4.2 million Ibori loot to Delta state government.

Idris says this when he appeared before the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Assessment and Status of All Recovered Loots Movable and Immovable Assets from 2002 to 2020 by Agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria for Effective Efficient Management and Utilisation.

“We’ve paid the money to Delta state. Those main recoveries go specifically to states.

“Honourable Chairman, any recovery concerning looted funds from a particular state returns back to the state.

“The state governors will not even allow us to rest and can sue us therefore we do not want such.”

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami on March 9 says they will use the loot to construct the second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kano road, and Lagos-Ibadan express road.

Malami said the federal government will not return to the Delta state where it was looted.

However, it does not go down well with lots of Nigerians that argues FG has no right to keep the £4.2 million.

 Who is James Ibori?

James Onanefe Ibori is a Nigerian politician who was Governor of Delta State in Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007.

An ethnic Urhobo by descent, Ibori is a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

He is an influential leader in the Niger Delta region and a national figure in Nigeria.

James Ibori goes from petty thief to Nigerian state governor to convicted money launderer.

He travels to UK in the 1980s and work as cashier in a DIY store in London.

Ibori was convicted in 1991 for stealing from the store but then returns to Nigeria and gets involved in politics.

When contested for Delta State Governor, he lied about his date of birth to hide the UK conviction which prevented him from contesting for office.

Ibori becomes governor in 1999 and soon begin to take money from state coffers. Delta state is the source of much Nigeria oil.