Delta State Should Get Ibori Loot Once Returned – Falana

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has called for the return of the £4.2million looted by the former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori back to the Niger Delta State

The Human rights lawyer made the call on Wednesday in an interview on Channels Television Programme, ‘Politics Today’, noting that the Federal Government cannot lay claim to the fund under any law.

“The Federal Government ought to be commended for pursuing this matter having regards to the fact that this case is a collaboratory issue between the EFCC under Malami/Ribadu and the Metropolitan Police in the United Kingdom,” he said.

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Falana added, “Having acknowledged the role of the Federal Government, the fund has to return to the source. As the Attorney General has said, the money is over £100 million. So what has been released now is the first tranche of £4.2 million.

“Since the money left the coffers of the Delta State Government, it has to be returned once it is recovered.”

The senior advocate said that the former governor was convicted in the UK under the country’s law but noted that the victim of corruption has to be compensated.

The Senior Lawyer argued that Article 35 of the United Nations Convention that is ratified by the United Kingdom and Nigeria, stated that any proceeds from the corruption should be expended on the victims.

According to Falana, the victim in the said corruption is the people of Delta State and the state government.

His comment is coming a day after the UK signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to return the sum of £4.2 million assets stolen by the former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori to Nigeria.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing who announced this in Abuja, the nation’s capital said the money was recovered from friends and family members of the former governor.