Delta State government is complaining that since the money seized from its former governor, James Ibori is Delta State money, why should it be used on projects outside the State? It is the height of wickedness to do so, the State said.
“Why should Delta State money be used in building Lagos-Ibadan Expressway or Abuja-Kano rail? Is the Federal Government saying it doesn’t know the origin of the money?” Commissioner for Information in Delta State, Charles Aniagwu asked.
But 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 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.”
A judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, had earlier ruled on a separate $15m that Ibori wanted to use to bribe the then EFCC chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, that, money recovered from Ibori must be paid into the Federation Account and not the Delta State coffers, because of the stiff resistance mounted by the Delta State Government and its official against prosecuting Ibori and recovery of funds from him.