Fed Govt, Delta Battle Over £4.2m Linked To Ibori, Others

*Cash for completion of Lagos-Ibadan road, 2nd Niger bridge

Who should be the custodian of the £4.2 million recovered from
friends and family members of former Delta State Governor James
Ibori to be returned to Nigeria by the United Kingdom
government?

The Federal Government said the cash considered as recovered
loot, belongs to it. It promptly deployed it for critical
infrastructure development.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice
Abubakar Malami said: “The major consideration relating to who is
entitled to a fraction or perhaps the money in its entirety is a
function of law and international diplomacy.”

He added: “All the processes associated with the recovery were
consummated by the federal government and the federal government is
indeed, the victim of crime and not the sub-national,” Speaking on
Channels Television last night.

But the Delta State Government rejected the takeover of the cash
by the Federal Government.

It described the action as unjust and “smacks of impunity”,
vowing to use all legal means to get the money back into the Delta
State coffers.

Commissioner for Information Charles Aniagwu described the
presidential directive as “provocative and condemnable”.

According to him, the state government would not “hesitate to
take all necessary legal action”.

He said the state was not at loggerheads with any state or the
federal to warrant any punitive action.

The commissioner said: “We condemn it. It is a decision that
speaks volumes of injustice…what the federal government intends to
do amounts to impunity.

“I don’t even know how to classify this behaviour of the federal
government. Maybe President Muhammadu Buhari is not aware of what
Malami is up to….I assume that those making those statements are
showing their ignorance of the structure of our federation and the
need to be equitable in decision making.”

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s Chief Press Secretary Olisa Ifeajika
insisted that: “The money belongs to Delta government. If it’s
being returned, it should come to Delta State. Chief James Ibori
was not a federal minister; neither was he a federal permanent
secretary; he was never a federal official. He operated in Delta
State as a governor.

“So, if there is any window for the money to be brought back, it
should, naturally, come to Delta State. And if for any reason, that
the Federal Government has a different plan, there should be a
discussion with the state government.

“Not consulting with the government and planning to spend the
cash on projects outside the state is impunity and disrespect for
the rule of law.”

*Cash for completion of Lagos-Ibadan road, 2nd Niger bridge

Who should be the custodian of the £4.2 million recovered from
friends and family members of former Delta State Governor James
Ibori to be returned to Nigeria by the United Kingdom
government?

The Federal Government said the cash considered as recovered
loot, belongs to it. It promptly deployed it for critical
infrastructure development.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice
Abubakar Malami said: “The major consideration relating to who is
entitled to a fraction or perhaps the money in its entirety is a
function of law and international diplomacy.”

He added: “All the processes associated with the recovery were
consummated by the federal government and the federal government is
indeed, the victim of crime and not the sub-national,” Speaking on
Channels Television last night.

But the Delta State Government rejected the takeover of the cash
by the Federal Government.

It described the action as unjust and “smacks of impunity”,
vowing to use all legal means to get the money back into the Delta
State coffers.

Commissioner for Information Charles Aniagwu described the
presidential directive as “provocative and condemnable”.

According to him, the state government would not “hesitate to
take all necessary legal action”.

He said the state was not at loggerheads with any state or the
federal to warrant any punitive action.

The commissioner said: “We condemn it. It is a decision that
speaks volumes of injustice…what the federal government intends to
do amounts to impunity.

“I don’t even know how to classify this behaviour of the federal
government. Maybe President Muhammadu Buhari is not aware of what
Malami is up to….I assume that those making those statements are
showing their ignorance of the structure of our federation and the
need to be equitable in decision making.”

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s Chief Press Secretary Olisa Ifeajika
insisted that: “The money belongs to Delta government. If it’s
being returned, it should come to Delta State. Chief James Ibori
was not a federal minister; neither was he a federal permanent
secretary; he was never a federal official. He operated in Delta
State as a governor.

“So, if there is any window for the money to be brought back, it
should, naturally, come to Delta State. And if for any reason, that
the Federal Government has a different plan, there should be a
discussion with the state government.

“Not consulting with the government and planning to spend the
cash on projects outside the state is impunity and disrespect for
the rule of law.”