According to PUNCH....The Delta State Government may not get
anything from the about $250m worth of assets and money which the United
Kingdom claims a former governor, Chief James Ibori, stole from the
state, we has learnt.
Ibori is currently facing a confiscation
hearing which may lead to the permanent forfeiture of all his assets
purchased with the proceeds of crime.
The British Government had accused Ibori
of stealing about $250m from the Delta State Government part of which
was used in buying six houses and luxury vehicles in the UK, the United
States and South Africa.
Already the Delta State Government has
permanently forfeited $15m of the Ibori loot to the Federal Government
for failing to cooperate with the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission to bring Ibori to justice. The state government had even
challenged the EFCC’s right to probe Ibori in 2008, insisting that Ibori
never stole.
While giving his ruling on the case of
the EFCC vs the Delta State Government regarding the ownership of the
$15m which Ibori allegedly used in bribing a former Chairman of the
EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Justice Gabriel Kolawole had accused the state
government of protecting Ibori.
The judge ruled that money recovered from Ibori must be paid into the Federation Account and not the Delta State coffers.
The judge said, “With utmost sense of
responsibility as a judicial officer, I view the stiff resistance
mounted by the Delta State Government and its official as one which
borders on the state’s acquiesce in the looting of its own fund or at
best, as that of collaborators with its erstwhile governor on the issue
of $15m allegedly offered to former EFCC chairman, Nuhu Ribadu as
bribe.”
According to AFP news agency, before
Ibori returns to Nigeria, he must face a deportation hearing and then
also pay £18m to the UK government as the “proceeds of crime.”
Sources within the EFCC told our
correspondent that Delta State had done nothing to assist in the
investigation and prosecution of Ibori and should thus not be entitled
to any money.
A senior detective told our
correspondent that the body language of the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led
government suggested that the state government was still in support of
Ibori.
A source at the EFCC said, “The state
government has not shown any seriousness in helping to recover Ibori’s
loot. Back in 2009, the state government did everything possible to
frustrate the Federal Government’s efforts and even went to court to
challenge the EFCC. They claimed Ibori never stole.
“Much has not changed today because the
state government last week issued a statement celebrating the release of
Ibori. The Attorney General of the state, Mr. Peter Mrakpor, celebrated
Ibori’s release and even called on the Federal Government to pardon
him.”
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