AGF, Malami Writes UPU To Beg Ibori Withdraw Suit Against Repatriation Of £4.2m Looted Assets

The Federal Government has written to Urhobo Progress Union,
UPU, to prevail on the former Delta State Governor, Chief James
Ibori to withdraw the suit he instituted against the United Kingdom
on the confiscation and planned repatriation of about £4.2 million
linked to him.

The Federal Government also said that the intervention of the
UPU would create an enabling environment for the consideration of
the appeal by the union that the alleged looted asset should be
used to implement projects in the state.

Recall that the UPU through its President General, Engineer
Joseph Omene had on 23rd March, 2021, made a request that the
confiscated assets linked to the former governor should be used for
projects in Delta state against the position of the Federal
Government that it would be used to fund critical projects across
the country.

In a letter addressed to Engineer Omene, the Attorney General of
the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami noted
that the suit filed by Chief Ibori against the United Kingdom on
the confiscated assets has become a stumbling block for
repatriation.

The AGF letter with the title, “Re-Commendation for Retrieval of
Delta’s Stolen Funds and request for Review of Projects to be
Executed with the Retrieved Funds”, was signed by Juliet
Ibekaku-Nwagwu, the Special Assistant to the President on Justice
Reform and International Relations.

The letter read, “I am directed to inform (you) that the HAGF is
in receipt of your letter dated 23rd March 2021 with regard to the
above subject matter. The HAGF appreciates your concerns and
welcomes the interest of UPU in the returned assets.

“The HAGF wishes to inform that he does not have the authority
to approve projects for the application of returned assets. These
decisions are taken at the Federal Executive Council after in-depth
deliberations. The HAGF’s mandate is to implement the decisions of
the council.

“I am also directed to inform further that the decision of the
council is also guided by bilateral negotiations between Nigeria
and the country from which the asset will be returned.

“Accordingly, Nigeria and the government of the United Kingdom
or any other country for that matter must agree on a specific
project in a transparent and accountable manner before a project is
approved.

“However, the HAGF has directed that I inform you that the
stumbling block in negotiating the return of assets linked to Ibori
to Nigeria is the ongoing litigation by Mr James Ibori against the
government of United Kingdom in the confiscation hearing in
London.

“It is advisable that you approach Mr James Ibori to advise him
to withdraw his appeals against the confiscation and repatriation
of the assets linked to him, his family, and associates back to
Nigeria.

“This is the only way to provide an enabling environment for
negotiation of the use of the identified assets for Delta
State.”

The UPU contention was that the said looted assets were from
Delta State and should be used to implement projects in the state
with the supervision of the Federal Government.

The Federal Government has written to Urhobo Progress Union,
UPU, to prevail on the former Delta State Governor, Chief James
Ibori to withdraw the suit he instituted against the United Kingdom
on the confiscation and planned repatriation of about £4.2 million
linked to him.

The Federal Government also said that the intervention of the
UPU would create an enabling environment for the consideration of
the appeal by the union that the alleged looted asset should be
used to implement projects in the state.

Recall that the UPU through its President General, Engineer
Joseph Omene had on 23rd March, 2021, made a request that the
confiscated assets linked to the former governor should be used for
projects in Delta state against the position of the Federal
Government that it would be used to fund critical projects across
the country.

In a letter addressed to Engineer Omene, the Attorney General of
the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami noted
that the suit filed by Chief Ibori against the United Kingdom on
the confiscated assets has become a stumbling block for
repatriation.

The AGF letter with the title, “Re-Commendation for Retrieval of
Delta’s Stolen Funds and request for Review of Projects to be
Executed with the Retrieved Funds”, was signed by Juliet
Ibekaku-Nwagwu, the Special Assistant to the President on Justice
Reform and International Relations.

The letter read, “I am directed to inform (you) that the HAGF is
in receipt of your letter dated 23rd March 2021 with regard to the
above subject matter. The HAGF appreciates your concerns and
welcomes the interest of UPU in the returned assets.

“The HAGF wishes to inform that he does not have the authority
to approve projects for the application of returned assets. These
decisions are taken at the Federal Executive Council after in-depth
deliberations. The HAGF’s mandate is to implement the decisions of
the council.

“I am also directed to inform further that the decision of the
council is also guided by bilateral negotiations between Nigeria
and the country from which the asset will be returned.

“Accordingly, Nigeria and the government of the United Kingdom
or any other country for that matter must agree on a specific
project in a transparent and accountable manner before a project is
approved.

“However, the HAGF has directed that I inform you that the
stumbling block in negotiating the return of assets linked to Ibori
to Nigeria is the ongoing litigation by Mr James Ibori against the
government of United Kingdom in the confiscation hearing in
London.

“It is advisable that you approach Mr James Ibori to advise him
to withdraw his appeals against the confiscation and repatriation
of the assets linked to him, his family, and associates back to
Nigeria.

“This is the only way to provide an enabling environment for
negotiation of the use of the identified assets for Delta
State.”

The UPU contention was that the said looted assets were from
Delta State and should be used to implement projects in the state
with the supervision of the Federal Government.