Human rights lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana has asked that the £4.2million looted funds recovered from former Delta State Governor James Ibori by the UK government, be returned back to the Delta state.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Falana stated that the Federal Government cannot lay claim to the fund under any law.
He said;
“The Federal Government ought to be commended for pursuing this matter having regards to the fact that this case is a collabo issue between the EFCC under Malami/Ribadu and the Metropolitan Police in the United Kingdom.
“Having acknowledged the role of the Federal Government, the fund has to return to the source. As the Attorney General has said, the money is over £100 million. So what has been released now is the first tranche of £4.2 million.
“Since the money left the covers of the Delta State Government, it has to be returned once it is recovered.”
Falana who further pointed out that the ex-Delta governor was convicted in the UK under the country’s law, averred that the victim which is Delta state has to be compensated.
He backed this up by stating that Article 35 of the United Nations Convention that is ratified between the United kingdom and Nigeria respectively, allows proceeds recovered from corruption to be expended on the victims.
