Delta State Government has debunked reports that the state has received the £4.2 million recovered from the loot of former governor, James Ibori, from the federal government.

Peoples Gazette learnt the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, had on Tuesday claimed that the Ibori recovered loot has been sent to the Delta State.

Mr Idris  while appearing before the Senate committee investigating the status of recovered loots, noted that any recovered state loot belongs to the state.

But, Delta State Accountant General, Joy Enwa on Wazobia Fm said the state is yet to receive the recovered loot from the federal purse.
Ms Enwa queried the bank account the federal government credited, saying “I haven’t seen any money. As you heard, so I also heard but I have not seen any money”

Earlier, the governor’s spokesperson, Olisa Ifejika, insisted the state is yet to see the money.

Mr Ifejika told reporters in Asaba that the Delta government heard the news like every other Nigerians. 

“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.

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

The Delta APC had earlier warned Governor Okowa to use the fund judiciously and ensure it is not re-looted, The Gazette reported.

Since the UK government announced plans to return the looted £4.2 million recovered from Mr Ibori’s friends, family members, and associates to Nigeria, there has been controversy surrounding the return of the fund.

Attorney General Abubakar Malami on live television said the fund will not be returned to Delta State, pointing that the state government did not partake in the recovery process.

Right activists and some Nigerians lambasted the federal government for disclosing the fund will be used for the completion of the second Niger Bridge, the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, and the Abuja to Kano expressway projects.