House Urges FG to Halt Appropriation, Disbursement of £4.2m Recovered Loot

*Says money belongs to delta govt

The House of Representatives at plenary Wednesday, urged the
Federal Ministry of Finance to stop further appropriation or
disbursement of the recovered £4.2 million which was looted by
former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, pending the final
determination of the matter by the House.

The House also declared that the money belongs to the Delta
State Government.

The lower chamber also requested the Federal Ministry of Finance
and Attorney General of Federation (AGF) to furnish it with all
particulars relating to the recovered money.

It also directed the House Committees on Finance, Justice, Loans
and Recovered Funds to investigate the matter and revert to the
House within two weeks.

The resolutions were sequel to the adoption of a motion of
urgent national importance, sponsored by the House Minority Leader,
Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, and nine other lawmakers from Delta State.

Moving the motion, Elumelu noted that the sum of £4.2 million
being proceeds of looted funds recovered from a former Governor of
Delta State, Ibori, is being transferred to the coffers of the
Federal Government of Nigeria for appropriation without recourse to
the Delta State and or parliament in two weeks’ time.

He said the House is aware that assets seized by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from states were returned to
such states, hence the said recovered looted funds belong to the
people of Delta State and as such ought to be refunded to the
coffers of the Delta State Government for developmental
purposes.

Elumelu expressed concerns that if the federal government is
allowed to appropriate the funds without recourse to the Delta
State, the people of Delta will be deprived of their legitimate
resources to improve on the economy of the state.

He disclosed that all indications and information to Delta State
indicates that the actual money is £6.2 million, adding that the
federal government should ensure that the total sum of £6.2 million
is credited and not £4.2 million as stated.

The lawmaker added that if the federal government is not stopped
from further dealing with the said fund, the recovered loot may not
be accounted to and or have any direct bearing or benefit to the
people of Delta State.

*Says money belongs to delta govt

The House of Representatives at plenary Wednesday, urged the
Federal Ministry of Finance to stop further appropriation or
disbursement of the recovered £4.2 million which was looted by
former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, pending the final
determination of the matter by the House.

The House also declared that the money belongs to the Delta
State Government.

The lower chamber also requested the Federal Ministry of Finance
and Attorney General of Federation (AGF) to furnish it with all
particulars relating to the recovered money.

It also directed the House Committees on Finance, Justice, Loans
and Recovered Funds to investigate the matter and revert to the
House within two weeks.

The resolutions were sequel to the adoption of a motion of
urgent national importance, sponsored by the House Minority Leader,
Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, and nine other lawmakers from Delta State.

Moving the motion, Elumelu noted that the sum of £4.2 million
being proceeds of looted funds recovered from a former Governor of
Delta State, Ibori, is being transferred to the coffers of the
Federal Government of Nigeria for appropriation without recourse to
the Delta State and or parliament in two weeks’ time.

He said the House is aware that assets seized by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from states were returned to
such states, hence the said recovered looted funds belong to the
people of Delta State and as such ought to be refunded to the
coffers of the Delta State Government for developmental
purposes.

Elumelu expressed concerns that if the federal government is
allowed to appropriate the funds without recourse to the Delta
State, the people of Delta will be deprived of their legitimate
resources to improve on the economy of the state.

He disclosed that all indications and information to Delta State
indicates that the actual money is £6.2 million, adding that the
federal government should ensure that the total sum of £6.2 million
is credited and not £4.2 million as stated.

The lawmaker added that if the federal government is not stopped
from further dealing with the said fund, the recovered loot may not
be accounted to and or have any direct bearing or benefit to the
people of Delta State.