I have no loot anywhere in the world - Ibori tells FG

- James Ibori has denied having any loot any part of the world

- He faulted the minister of justice for making a misleading statement

- He wished President Buhari well

Chief James Ibori, a former governor of Delta state has reacted to claims by the Abubakar Malami, minister of justice and attorney-general of the federation (AGF) that the federal government will soon recover £6.9million stolen funds frittered away by him.

Ibori, who is currently serving a jail sentence in the United Kingdom, debunked the report, saying he does not have any loot in any part of the world, Vanguard reports.

He expressed shock and disappointment that a top government official could make such “misleading statement.”

A statement issued on his behalf by Tony Eluemunr, his media aide read: “There is no Ibori loot anywhere in the world. Such money, whether in British pounds, American dollars or the Nigerian naira just does not exist. This is because the Ibori London trial is not yet over. It is an incontrovertible fact that the confiscation hearing has not started at all, and remains months away into the future.

“This makes it disappointing that a high official of state such as the Attorney-General may have been misled into believing that an Ibori loot not only exists anywhere, but he even put a figure (6.9 million pounds) to it.

READ ALSO: How Okowa, Others Prepare For Ibori’s Release From Prison

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“With all due respect to the Minister and the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, it is curious that such a misleading statement could have come less than a week that dozens of well-respected foreign media organisations, including the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, The Times of London, The Guardian of London,   and a host of Nigerian news outlets reported that the case against Ibori and his associates have become shaky as some operatives of the London Metropolitan Police have been accused of bribery and corruption in the course of their investigations. Thus, at the  January 21, 2016 hearing, the prosecution was forced to withdraw its case against one of Ibori’s counsel, Mr. Bradesh Gohil."

According to Eluemunor, he had assumed the minister was misquoted but when he failed to retract the statement after 24 hours that he had to inform Nigerians, including the minister of the true perspective of the Ibori London trial.

He noted that the so called “Ibori Loot” Malami saw must have been a terrible mirage.

Ibori wished President Muhammadu Buhari, his administration and ministers, well in their stated bid to leave Nigeria better than they found it.

Earlier this month, British High Commissioner, Paul Arkwright said the British government was still possession of Ibori’s stolen loot and that they were working with Nigerian authorities to deliver an effective mechanism for the return of stolen funds and assets from Nigeria.

Ibori was jailed in 2012, two years after he was arrested by the Interpol in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, where he was hiding after fleeing Nigeria. He pled guilty to ten counts of money laundering and conspiracy to commit fraud in February 2012 and was sentenced to 13 years in jail.

Meanwhile, there are indications that the former governor may be making an early return to Nigeria from the United Kingdom prison and he may face further trial in Nigeria when he returns.

Source: Legit.ng