Accountant-General backtracks, says £4.2m Ibori loot not yet returned to Delta

The Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, has backtracked on his recent claim that the federal government has returned to recovered £4.2m Ibori loot to Delta State.

Mr Idris, while appearing before ad-hoc committee of the House of Representatives on recovered assets, claim the loot recovered by the federal government has been handed over the state, a claim the state government disputed.

His claim contradicts that of Abubakar Malami, Attorney General of the Federation, who said the agreement with which the loot was recovered by the federal government was for it to be invested in nationwide infrastructures.

But in a statement by his spokesman, Henshaw Ogubike, the accountant-general said issues surrounding the funds were still being ironed out.

The money is still being awaited, after which the issues around it will be resolved before further action is taken,” Idris said. “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,” he added.