Ebun Francis| The mystery surrounding the recovered £4.2 million Ibori loot continued on Wednesday as the accountant-general of the federation (AGF), Idris Ahmed recanted his earlier claim that the money has been returned to Delta state.
Ahmed had while appearing before the house of representatives ad hoc committee on “assessment and status of all recovered loots movable and immovable assets from 2002-2020 by agencies of the federal government of Nigeria for effective efficient management and utilisation” on Tuesday, said the funds have been returned to Delta state government.
But Olisa Ifeajika, chief press secretary to Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta, on Wednesday told reporters at a news conference in Asaba, the state capital, that the state government is yet to receive the funds.
“Delta government is in contact with the federal government, especially the office of the attorney-general of the federation, on the issue,” Ifeajika said.
Also on Wednesday, Lauretta Onochie, media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, in a post on her Facebook page, said the money has not been returned to the Delta state government as claimed by the Accountant General.
According to Onochie, such a move would breach the terms and conditions on which the funds were repatriated.
She wrote, “Now, let me remind us. The attorney-general of the federation, Abubakar Mallami, the British high commissioner, Catriona Laing, and other relevant agencies held a press conference openly telling the world when the money would be returned, and the specific projects the money was approved for openly.”
“When it was delayed, the attorney-general informed Nigerians of the reason for the delay. When the loot arrived, Nigerians were informed too. The conditions under which the funds were repatriated, still stand. Again, no penny was paid to the Delta state government. If we break the conditions for getting this chicken amount, how do we get the elephant amount that is still coming?
“The British high commissioner is also keeping an open eye on those projects. I know what we all heard. But we also know the facts. Pres. Muhammadu Buhari runs an open government. The attorney-general is part of the open policy. Nothing hidden. Nigerians would be the first to know if he decides to break an agreement made with Britain. I very much doubt it. He’s an Honourable man.”
In apparent response to Onochie’s post, a statement issued by Henshaw Ogubike, spokesperson to the accountant-general, said the issue surrounding the loot had “not been properly resolved”.
According to the statement, “The money is still being awaited, after which the issues around it will be resolved before further action is taken.”
“For now, no money has been returned to Delta state. This is the true position as regards the £4.2m Ibori loot. The issue of the £4.2m Ibori loot has not been properly resolved.
“The office of the accountant-general of the federation (OAGF) wishes to put the records straight regarding the widely circulated media report on the £4.2m Ibori loot.”
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