Ibori Loot: ANEEJ Meets EFCC, British High Commission, Justice Ministry #OsazuwaAkonedo
Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ yesterday held a meeting with the officials of the British High Commission, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Federal Ministry of Justice as part of efforts to ensure federal government return recovered James Onanefe Ibori’s loot to Delta State.
ANEEJ team led by its Executive Director, David Ugolor met also with the officials of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, F.C.D.O and British High Commission at the network office in Abuja.
Representatives of the British High Commission and the Commonwealth Office which include the commission Political team member, Stuart Gardner, the Commonwealth team leader, Sam Waldock and the Illicit Finance leader of the Commonwealth office, Andrew Clowes engaged in consultative discussion with ANEEJ and other Delta State Civil society representatives headed by David Ugolor, Leo Atakpo, Paul Odokara and Martha Onose.
The consultative meeting include discussion on James Onanefe Ibori loot and the best practices in managing asset return.
Picture shows officials of the British High Commission in Nigeria, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office in discussion with representatives of Africa Network and Economic Justice and other civil societies from Delta State over James Ibori loot yesterday at ANEEJ office in Abuja PHOTO: ANEEJ
ANEEJ in another engagement, visited the Ministry of Justice and met with the Director of Asset Recovery and Management Unit, Ladidi Mohammed and the Asset Recovery Unit Director of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, E.F.C.C to continue advocacy on James Onanefe Ibori loot and the passage of Proceeds of Crime bill.
Recently, it would be recalled the United Kingdom government announced plan to return £4.2 million stolen by the Former Delta State Governor, James Onanefe Ibori.
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami during the MoU signing ceremony with the UK government said President Muhammadu Buhari has directed all recovered illicit financial inflow to be used to finance federal government projects, specifically the construction of the Second Niger Bridge, Kano-Abuja road and Lagos-Ibadan road.
This drew the attention of the civil society organization, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ to organise urgent press conference and demanded the money be returned to Delta state and not Federal Government.
Picture shows officials of the British High Commission in Nigeria, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office in discussion with representatives of Africa Network and Economic Justice and other civil societies from Delta State over James Ibori loot yesterday at ANEEJ office in Abuja PHOTO: ANEEJ
ANEEJ also demanded the two governments to disclose publicly the real amount recovered from James Onanefe Ibori.
Abubakar Malami thereafter in an interview during Politics Today programme on Channels Television said the federal government is expecting £100 million from the United Kingdom being stolen assets by James Onanefe Ibori.
He added that the about to be repatriated £4.2 million is part of the £100 million expected and remaining amount is still under judicial processes and trial.
Picture shows the Executive Director of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, David Ugolor with officials of the Ministry of Justice and Economic and Financial Commission, E.F.C.C for continued advocacy on James Ibor loot and passage of Proceeds of Crime bill PHOTO: ANEEJ
He said the recovered money belongs to the federal government because it was federal law that was breached and not Delta state law.
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