The Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, yesterday, said the £4.2 million recovered from former Delta State governor, James Ibori, which the Federal Government recently repatriated from the UK has been returned by the Federal Government to the state. Mr. Idris made the above known on Tuesday in Abuja when he appeared before the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Assessment and Status of All Recovered Loots Movable and Immovable Assets from 2002 and 2020, headed by Adejoro Adeogun. “I know there was a time recovery was made on behalf of Plateau State,” Idris said.
“I know there was a time recovery was made on behalf of Plateau State,” Idris said. “There was one for Bayelsa. There was one for different states, even Delta. Such recoveries go specifically to those states.”
Adeogun specifically referred him to the recent Ibori loot received from the United Kingdom.
“Let us give an example. There is something trending. The recovery of Ibori loot. When would it be paid to the state?” Adeogun asked.
But Idris responded, “It has been paid to the state. It was paid to Delta state.”
Adeogun asked Mr. Idris specifically if the Ibori loot was paid to Delta State. He (Idris) answered in the affirmative.
“It was paid to the state, it was paid to Delta State. Any recovery that is arising from any state, goes to that state. State governors will not even allow it to fly, they will take the federal government to court. We pay them their money,” Mr. Idris said.
Adeogun noted that this was contrary to information in the public domain that it was used for specific projects.
The Accountant General said some recoveries are for specific state governments.
However, Idris responded, “Any recovery arising from looted funds from a particular state goes to the state. The state governors would not even allow this to fly.
“They will take the Federal Government to court for holding their money. So we don’t joke and we don’t play with that. We pay them their money.”
