UK Returns £4.2m James Ibori loot to Nigeria, envoy says oney from criminality not welcome in UK

By Yemi Oyeyemi, Abuja

Nigeria on Tuesday recorded a giant stride in the fight against corruption as the United Kingdom will, within 14 days, return to her the sum of £4.2 million recovered as proceed of corrupt practices from associates and family of former Delta State Governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori.

A Memorandum of Understanding MoU for the release of the huge sum was signed on Tuesday in Abuja between the United Kingdom and Nigeria.

The funds would be the first of seized assets to be returned by the UK under the UK-Nigeria MOU entered in 2016.

Ibori, had in 2012 pleaded guilty to money laundering and other charges in a UK court and was consequently sentenced to 13 years imprisonment.

Some of his family members and associates were convicted and also sentenced to prison over similar charges.

However, the federal government in the 2016 MOU has been pursuing the return of the monies and others in the UK to Nigeria.

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Malam Abubakar Malami, SAN who signed on behalf of Nigeria, described the event as “another major milestone in our determined quest as a nation to attain full recovery of all looted assets, prevent abuse of recovered assets and also to ensure optimal utilization of such recovered assets for the benefit of our deserving citizens”.

Malami recalled that the Nigerian government had all along provided the required mutual assistance and backup to the British authorities while the prosecution of James Ibori lasted in London.

“I cannot but observe that what we are witnessing today is a glaring manifestation of the agelong national ties between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

“I am confident that both the Nigerian and British governments remain committed to all affirmative actions to combat corruption/illicit financial flows, ensure that looters do not find comfort or save haven in our territories and also to guarantee that the forfeited or recovered proceeds of corruption are deployed to the benefit of the masses”, he said.

The AGF disclosed that in consonance with existing framework or model engaged in the management of previous recoveries, the Federal Executive Council has directed that the instant repatriated funds should be deployed towards the completion of the Second Niger Bridge, Abuja – Kano expressway and the Lagos – Ibadan expressway under the coordination of the Nigeria Social Investment Authority (NSIA).

The decision he explained is to ensure integrity of the process, adding that a reputable Civil Society Organization has been engaged to monitor/supervise the expenditure of the recovered funds on the execution of these critical projects which are evenly spread across the country.

He commended the sincerity of purpose of the British government even as he noted that Nigeria looks forward to similar assistance and cooperation in bringing to book all other persons and entities who at the moment are inequitably exploiting the system in UK to shield themselves from justice.

Similarly, British High Commissioner, MS Catriona Laing, in her remarks stated that the signing of the agreement apart from showing the two countries determination to lead the way in a coordinated global effort to bring corrupt individuals to justice, sends a clear message to Nigerians that the former governor has been held to account.

Laing stated that the agreement further demonstrated that money obtained through criminality or corruption is not welcome in the UK, adding that the UK will ensure that the full weight of law enforcement to crack down upon those who look to use, move or hide their proceeds of crime in the UK.

“It is vitally important that this agreement makes strong provision for transparency, monitoring and accountability. It is a guiding principle of both the UK and Nigerian governments that stolen assets should be used for projects that benefit Nigeria’s poor”, she said.

The High Commissioner added that all things being equal the £4.2 million would be made available to Nigeria “in the next couple of days”.

Earlier, the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr Dayo Apata, SAN had disclosed that the Ministry had taking the bull by the horn in the fight against corruption by formulating National Strategies and Action Plans for combating corruption, pursuit of repatriation or recovery of looted funds and assets and issuance of Assets Tracing, Recovery and Management Regulations.

Other actions by the ministry he said also included setting up of Inter-ministerial Presidential Committee on the Disposal of Forfeited Assets, setting up of Central Database for Recovered Assets, drafting of bills to stifle corrupt practices, implementation of Whistle Blower Policy, issuance of Executive Orders Six, Eight and Ten.