Delta Kicks as UK Plans Return of N2.2bn Looted by Ibori’s Family

THE Delta State Government will receive nothing out of the £4.2m (N2.2bn) seized from former Governor James Ibori which will be repatriated from the United Kingdom, a development which has been rejected by the state government.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), while thanking the UK, said the money would be used for Federal Government projects such as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the 2nd Niger Bridge and the Abuja-Kano rail, giving no indication that Delta State would receive a portion of the funds.

Malami said this while delivering his speech on Tuesday at the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and the government of the UK regarding the return and management of stolen assets recovered from Ibori and associates.

He said, “In consonance with existing framework or model engaged in the management of previous recoveries, the Federal Executive Council under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the instant repatriated funds should be deployed towards the completion of the following legacy projects: the Second Niger Bridge, Abuja – Kano expressway and the Lagos – Ibadan expressway under the coordination of the Nigeria Social Investment Authority.”