N’Delta youths caution against diversion of Delta’s £4.2m

The Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC), yesterday, cautioned the Federal Government against diverting Delta State’s £4.2 million the United Kingdom refunded to the country Delta state.

It vowed to resist any attempt by to deprive Delta State of the monies seized from the former Governor of the state, James Ibori in the United Kingdom.

The group was reacting to statement credited to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who maintained that the money belonged to the Federal Government.

It faulted moves by the authorities to use the money for the construction of the second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kano road and the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The group argued that if Federal Government appropriated the funds without recourse to the Delta State Government, the state would be shortchanged and deprived of resources to improve infrastructure development and its economy.

In a statement issued by its Director of International Relations, Collins Ufuoma Achakpekri and National Coordinator, Jator Abido, the group vowed to use all available means to ensure that Delta State got what rightly belonged to it, as the practice had always been.

“This is not the first time looted fund from states in the country is being repatriated from abroad. However, once the money is returned, it goes to the originating state. “The money confiscated from former Governor Joshua Dariye of Plateau State in the UK was recovered by the Federal Government, repatriated to Nigeria and returned to the Plateau State Government.

“The money confiscated from former Governor Diepreye Alamieyesigha of Bayelsa State in the UK was recovered, repatriated to Nigeria and remitted to the state government.

“How then will anyone suggest that Federal Government should appropriate the £4.2 million confiscated from former Governor James Ibori in the UK,” the statement queried.