James Ibori

The United Kingdom has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to return the sum of £4.2 million  stolen by former Delta State Governor, James Ibori to Nigeria.

The British High Commission to Nigeria, Ms. Catriona Laing, who disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja, said this was the first tranche of such planned returns.

Laing, who spoke at a ceremony for the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between both countries in Abuja, assured that more of such recoveries from the Ibori case would be returned to Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who signed for the country, disclosed that the recovery of the stolen funds is part of the efforts of the current administration to fight corruption.

He also said that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that returned loots be deployed to completion of the second Niger Bridge, the Lagos to Ibadan Expressway and the Abuja to Kano Expressway projects.

Based on the agreement signed, the £4.2million is to be returned two weeks from now.