The Delta State Government has asked the Federal Government to return the £4.2 million James Ibori loot being repatriated to Nigeria by the United Kingdom to the state.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa believes that since the money was stolen from the state, it would only be just to return the funds back to the state.
Governor Okowa pointed out that he has spoken with the attorney-general of the federation and that his state attorney-general has also had a meeting with him, adding that they are working and they are likely to come on the same page.
The protest by the state is in reaction to the decision of the Federal Government to spend the returned funds on federal projects.
Nigeria and the UK had signed a memorandum of understanding on March 9 for the repatriation of the funds stolen by Ibori, a former Delta State Governor.
But the development became mired in controversy shortly after the MoU was signed when the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, revealed the money will be spent by the Federal Government.
The projects it will be spent on, according to Mr. Malami were the construction of the second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kano road, and Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
To guarantee that Deltans benefit from the repatriated loot, the governor said it had provided options to the Federal Government and made a compelling case for the state.
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