There have been mixed reactions as the British government resolved last week to return to Nigeria the sum of $4.2 million (N2.2 billion) funds allegedly recovered from the account of friends and families of former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori. The issue being debated around the towns and cities of the country is whether the recovered fund should be used by the Federal Government to facilitate projects or given to Delta State Government, since it was originally allocated to the oil-rich state.
A similar incident is that of late military ruler, General Sanni Abacha’s Swiss refund of $320 million.
There is this argument that since the recovered fund was from the governor of a particular state, then the alleged looted fund belonged to the state since he was the custodian of the state.But another group said that since the fund was released from the Federal Government, then the alleged crime was committed against the Federal Government, moreover the federal is instrumental to the recovery of the looted funds from the UK Government, the Federal Government should benefit.
It is surprising to hear how funds are being carted away from public purse perhaps not directly from those who are in charge of the funds but by their cronies through dubious means. Yet when an ordinary person goes for transactions which involve little funds in the banks, he will be mandated to present regulatory identity cards. Why do the financial institutions note query the source of huge sums deposited in their custody?
Even in the foreign banks where those money are deposited, they don’t scrutinise the account holders bearing in mind that such funds cannot belong to an individual. These are heavy financial crimes involving millions, billions and even trillions that should be used to improve citizens’ lives and then only a few will be in possession depriving others from partaking of it.
Whether the Federal Government or Delta State benefits from the refund, when utilised maximally, must be for the good of all Nigerians.These are not the only cases of looted funds to be recovered, but there are so many that are not announced publicly. Citizens should always speak out on issues like these that bother on people’s welfare.
It is unfortunate that funds that should be used in developing projects that have direct bearing on the masses as well as job creation will be diverted by individuals through any means. The most disturbing aspect of it is that it is the commonwealth of all Nigerians.
Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Public Affairs, Ajuri Ngelale, had in an interview with journalists, confirmed that the fund would be used to facilitate the 2nd Niger Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Kano projects.
He said it was a federal crime that has to do with federal law since the money was taken outside the country and advised that people should not be sentimental about it.
A motivational speaker, Pastor Ikenna Ogbuehi, said it is a crime committed against the Federal Government and should be remitted to the federal purse.
Uchenna Chidiadi, a pharmacist, said it will be inappropriate to use the money which was appropriated to a state for the generality of Nigerians. While referring to former Military Head of State, late Abacha’s recovered loot, he said that was a federal fund.
He said that can be shared the normal way federal government allocation is done and advised that the Ibori fund should be returned to Delta State since it would have been raised from internally generated revenue (IGR) or the state’s allocation.
According to a legal practitioner, Efe Odide,the crime committed is a federal crime because the money was taken out of the country and that is why the money was remitted to the federal authority, although it was taken from a state.
A health safety officer, Uduak Udom, said persons who commit such crimes should be arrested and punished, regardless of political affiliation and sentiments, to deter those currently serving from looting public fund. He advised the current Delta State Government to seek some percentage of the fund from the Federal Government.
A social analyst, Mike Obi, said persons who commit such crimes should be set free because they are the products of the society.He referred to the Biblical quotation of training up of a child in the way he should go and claimed that if the child were to be comfortable from the beginning, he would not steal.
An evangelist, Peter Paul, said it is an oppression for federal government to use Delta State money to develop other parts of the country. He insisted that there may be more loot recoveries after this and advised the Federal Government to tackle this particular issue well so that reasonable impact can be made. According to him, citizens are more divided now than before to the extent that when national issues come up, people handle them from the political, ethnic and religious angles.
In the views of Ndiwem Onyedi, a businessman, people must realise that elected office or appointment should be seen as opportunity to serve and not to enrich themselves.He pointed out that nowadays, students abandon schooling for elective positions and added that even those who specialise in various professions have abandoned such for politics.
Onyedi said, as a younger person, he only saw retired public servants contesting even as councillors.
A teacher, Nathan Edu, said since the former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, had served prison term in the United Kingdom, he does not deserve any other punishment.
A businessman, James Okoro, emphasised that nobody was above the law and so should be punished if found wanting. He regretted that when a common man commits any crime the punishment comes swiftly.
Njideka Nathaniel asked: “How can a person who is above 60 years be stealing government money? You don’t sit down and ask yourself, how many years remaining for me to eat up this money? They loot the money and keep it for their children”.
A car dealer, Elijah Ejike, said that those who involve in that kind of fraud should be served capital punishment because, according to him, they are the reason why so many people are impoverished and dying of starvation.
In the words of a financial expert, Nonso Nnamani, looted funds should be returned to the rightful owners. As he put it, this is the fund that was originally allocated to Delta State by a bill passed by the National Assembly in the budget that is a law.  The money should be returned to the state.
He made reference to a report that the money would be used to fund three federal projects – Niger Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Kano projects and advised that Delta State should not be denied the money.
According to him, “Why are you sending the money to other zones. A precedence has been set. When Bayelsa lost their money, it was returned to them. When Plateau lost theirs, it was returned to them. Why is this an exception?”
An enterpreneur, Patricia Bassey, said the money should be returned to the state from where it was stolen. Before now according to her, the Federal Government must have got other funds to facilitate those projects. She wondered what would have happened if the Ibori loot wasn’t recovered. Wouldn’t they have carried out projects?
Her words: “Anyone found looting public fund should be prosecuted. It will serve as a deterrent to others, they will get to know that if you steal from your country even after serving a jail term outside your country, when you get back home, you will be punished. Some persons are thinking that they can engage in crime and get away with it, it is unacceptable. Let the law take its course while the offender faces the jail term.”
Perhaps why this is creating so much argument is that it is crossing borders, it is an international issue which concerns the federal government.
For those who are defrauding business partners, siphoning public funds, pensioners’ funds, among others, it is the commonwealth of the nation that is being stolen.
People should be law-abiding in their dealings as regards business and as public officers. A situation where funds meant for public use will be diverted to private purposes should be discouraged.
Interestingly, the money is going to benefit people who live in the region, especially Niger Bridge and its environs. Sometimes looters would always apologise and return part or the entire loot while in office. As a matter of fact, perpetrators of such acts should be punished because when these funds are removed, the citizens are deprived of the benefits. These funds are so huge that they can be used to provide social amenities.