The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, (SAN) says the delay in the return of the £4.2m seized from the former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori is as a result of documentations with banks in different countries.
Malami, in a statement titled, Íbori loot expected soon’ said; “Documentations with the banks in different countries often take longer than anticipated. We anticipated two weeks, but we’re not in control of the banks.
On behalf of the Nigerian Government, the Minister had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UK on March 9.
The Government and the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing and other officials announced that the looted fund would be repatriated in two weeks.
“There is neither complacency nor any delay as efforts are being made to ensure successful transfer of the looted funds,” Malami said.
The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and other relevant government agencies will inform the general public immediately the Ibori loot is received and confirmed.
In a related development the Nigerian Government had announced its plan to use the funds to complete the Second Niger Bridge, the Abuja-Kano and Lagos-Ibadan Expressways already being funded by the recovered $311m Abacha Loot III.