The House of Representatives has urged the Federal government to halt appropriation of 4.2 million pounds recovered from former Gov. James Ibori of Delta.
ASHENEWS recalls that the United Kingdom signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nigeria on Tuesday in agreement to repatriate the £4.2 million stolen by the former governor of Delta state.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami had stated that the Federal government would “deployed towards the completion of the following legacy projects: the Second Niger Bridge, Abuja – Kano expressway and the Lagos – Ibadan expressway under the coordination of the Nigeria Social Investment Authority (NSIA).”
However, in a motion by Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu (PDP-Delta), co-sponsored by nine other lawmakers from Delta, the House of Representatives unanimously adopted at plenary on Wednesday to stop the appropriation of the £4.2 million by the federal government.
Speaking, Elumelu said the £4.2 million, being proceeds of looted funds recovered from former governor James Ibori was being transferred to the coffers of the federal government for appropriation.
According to him, this is without recourse to the Delta government.
The rep said that the money belonged to the people of Delta and should be refunded to the coffers of the state government for developmental purposes.
Elumelu said that assets seized by Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from other states were returned to those states as the case in Bayelsa and Abia.
“If the federal government is allowed to appropriate the fund without recourse to the Delta government, the people of the state will be short-changed.
“They will be deprived of their legitimate resources to improve on the economy of the state as well as provide the requisite infrastructure for their benefit,” he said.
The house mandated its Committees on Finance, Justice and Recovered Funds to investigate the matter.
The lower chambers urged the Ministry of Finance to stop disbursement pending the final determination of the matter by the House.
The House also requested the Ministry of Finance and Attorney General of Federation to furnish it with all particulars relating to the money.
In his ruling, Deputy Speaker Ahmed Wase mandated the committees to conclude investigations and report to the House within two weeks.
