The House of Representatives yesterday, barred the Federal Government (FG), from proceeding to spend the sum of 4.2 million pounds repatriated funds linked to the former governor of Delta State,Chief James Ibori
In its resolutions on the matter at Wednesday’s plenary, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Finance to stop forthwith further appropriation and, or disbursement of said money, pending the final determination of the matter by the House.
It also requested the Federal Ministry of Finance and Attorney General of the Federation, to furnish the House with all particulars relating to the said money.
The House also directed its Committee on Finance, Justice and Loans and Recovered Funds to investigate this matter and revert to it within two weeks.
These resolutions followed a motion of urgent public importance on the matter, brought before it by Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Minority Leader of the House and nine others.
The lawmakers noted that the sum of 4.2 Million Pounds belonging to Delta State, was being transferred to the coffers of the Federal Government of Nigeria for appropriation in two weeks time, without recourse to the Delta State Government and or Parliament.
They insisted that the said recovered funds belonged to the good people of Delta State and as such ought to be refunded to the coffers of the Delta State Government for developmental purposes.
They further held that assets seized by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), from states were returned to such states, citing Bayelsa and Abia state as clear examples.
The legislators worried that if the Federal Government is allowed to appropriate the funds without recourse to the Delta State Government, the people of Delta State would be shortchanged and deprived of their legitimate resources to improve on the economy of the State as well as provide the requisite infrastructural development for their benefit.
They expressed that if the federal government was not barred from carrying on with its plans, the said funds may not be accounted for, or have any direct bearing or benefit to the people of Delta state.
