Delta state govt denies receiving £4.2m Ibori loot

Chidi Samuel| The Delta State Government on Wednesday denied receiving £4.2 million looted by its former governor, James Ibori.

The Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris had on Tuesday while appearing before the Senate committee investigating the status of recovered loot noted that the fund has been returned to the state.

But the Chief Press Secretary to the state government, Olisa Ifejika, while addressing journalists in Asaba on Wednesday morning insisted the money has not been returned to the state coffers.

“We appreciate the efforts of the Federal Government to return the recovered loot to Delta State where it rightly belongs. But the truth is that the money has not hit the Delta State government’s account, Ifejika said.

“We saw it yesterday like every other Nigerian when the Accountant General of the Federation Ahmed Idris while appearing before the House of Reps committee on recovered loot made that statement and there was this avalanche of enquires to know whether that money has come to us and the truth is that the money has not come.

“We are happy that they have shown willingness to return send the money and we know that very soon, the money will come,” Ifejika said while addressing journalists at the Government House in Asaba, the state capital.

According to Ifejika, the Delta State government will ensure that the funds are judiciously utilised to improve infrastructure across the state, once received.

The loot – £4.2 million – was seized from the associates of convicted former Governor of Delta State, Ibori by the United Kingdom and recently returned to Nigeria.