Money Laundering
Former Governor of Delta State Chief James Ibori has more to worry about as his sister was yesterday convicted of money laundering and mortgage fraud in the United Kingdom. A UK jury found Christine Ibori-Ibie guilty of 12 charges. She was said to have helped Ibori embezzle Delta State funds into his UK account to the tune of $101.5 million.
But the former governor has in a statement signed by his Media Assistant Tony Eluemunor rejected the judgment. He said the defense would appeal. AP reported that one of the former governor's assistants was acquitted while the trial of a third accused continues tomorrow.
Ibori questioned why only his sister was found guilty out of several people that stood trial.
In the statement, he said: “It is a fact that she (Ibori's sister) was the only one that exercised her right of not giving evidence during the trial; her legal team had decided that the Prosecution’s case against her was so weak that there was no need whatsoever for her to take the witness stand. Ibori recalls for the record that his sister Mrs. Christine Ibori-Ibie, Ms. Udoamaka Okoronkwo and Ms. Adebimkpe Pogoson were faced with the same money laundering charges of counts one to four during the trial.
"The charges against the others were rightly dropped for want of evidence. The rest charges against Mrs. Ibie were mortgage-related. But in continuation of the political persecution against Ibori, his sister has now been found guilty while others were rightly found innocent. To Ibori, this is a clear notice that every member of his family is under the same political attack that has been buffeting him, and that the rules would be bent to do his family members in for all the accused should have been declared innocent."
The former governor argued that no evidence of money laundering or corruption was found against his sister. The proceeds of crime, he claimed, was not found. According to him, the fact that Ibori-Ibie did not mount the witness stand, as advised by her lawyers to defend herself, should not be the reason why she should be found guilty on all counts.
Furthermore, he said that the evidence provided by the prosecution was destroyed on cross-examination. He stated that even the judge had last week declared that the mortgage charges were "not safe".
Ibori said he is confident that "justice will be done" because in his view, there is an international persecution against him emanating from Nigeria. He went on to state that he and his family members are unjustly haunted.
"Though a mighty international attempt orchestrated from Nigeria is on to make his family members pay heavily for the public service he rendered to Delta state just because of crass politics, through distortion of facts and media lynching, he nevertheless remains confident that in the end, justice would be done and the innocent would not be unduly victimized; that is why the defence will stoutly appeal this case and ensure that real justice is done and this miscarriage of justice is not allowed to stand," he stated.
Ibori was last month arrested in Dubai on a warrant of arrest issued by the UK. He was later granted bail but cannot leave the country according to the bail terms. He was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) shortly before he left for the Middle Eastern country.
He is also wanted in the UK for money laundering charges. It was reported that the UK authorities are working in conjunction with UAE to extradite him to London since both countries have an extradition agreement.
EFCC Chairman Farida Waziri also stated that Nigeria is collaborating with the two countries with the hope that Ibori would be returned to his home country to face charges, after he is released by the UK authorities.
EFCC claims Ibori used Delta State shares in Oceanic bank for personal purposes. The former governor however, said he is being politically persecuted.It was also reported that he had applied for political asylum in Dubai based on this.
A judge dismissed a 170-count fraud case against Ibori in December last year.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Supporters of Nigeria ex-governor Ibori attack police
Police trying to arrest a former state governor in Nigeria charged with corruption have been attacked by his supporters, police say.
Officers were ambushed in Oghara, the hometown of James Ibori in Delta state.
Mr Ibori has been accused of corruption and money laundering while in office by Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
On Tuesday, the inspector general of police ordered the arrest of Mr Ibori within 24 hours.
The police spokesperson told the BBC the attack would not prevent the authorities from carrying out their "constitutional mandate" to arrest Mr Ibori.
On Monday, Mr Ibori's supporters blocked roads leading into Oghara to protest against the EFCC's charges against the ex-governor of the oil-rich state.
This is not the first time the EFCC has tried to prosecute Mr Ibori.
In December 2009, a court in Asaba cleared Mr Ibori of 170 charges of corruption - involving the laundering of millions of dollars - because there was no clear evidence to convict.
The EFCC has been at the centre of a political storm in recent years - dogged by allegations of political bias.
Officers were ambushed in Oghara, the hometown of James Ibori in Delta state.
Mr Ibori has been accused of corruption and money laundering while in office by Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
On Tuesday, the inspector general of police ordered the arrest of Mr Ibori within 24 hours.
The police spokesperson told the BBC the attack would not prevent the authorities from carrying out their "constitutional mandate" to arrest Mr Ibori.
On Monday, Mr Ibori's supporters blocked roads leading into Oghara to protest against the EFCC's charges against the ex-governor of the oil-rich state.
This is not the first time the EFCC has tried to prosecute Mr Ibori.
In December 2009, a court in Asaba cleared Mr Ibori of 170 charges of corruption - involving the laundering of millions of dollars - because there was no clear evidence to convict.
The EFCC has been at the centre of a political storm in recent years - dogged by allegations of political bias.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Enugu High Court convicts Igbinedion, fines him N3.5 million
Former governor of Edo State , Chief Lucky Igbinedion, was yesterday convicted of corruption by the Federal High Court in Enugu in a trial initiated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
But the charge which were at the last count 191, were on December 17, 2008 narrowed down to one after a plea bargain the ex-governor entered into with the anti-graft commission.
The new one-count charge that led to Igbinedion’s conviction read: "That you Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion (former governor of Edo State) on or about 21st January 2008 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court neglected to make a declaration of your interest in the Account No: 4124013983110 with a new generation bank (Name withheld) in the declaration of assets form of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 27 (3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act 2008."
When the court read out this new charge to Igbinedion he did not waste time to plead guilty, making the presiding judge, Justice Abdul Tafarati, to sentence him to a fine of N3.5 million which is equal to the amount in the said account.
The judge asked the EFCC to remand him in its custody pending the time he would pay the fine, but as at the time Igbinedion was driven out of the court premises in a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs was still in the court premises and it was not clear whether the convict had paid the fine or not.
But in a swift reaction, the EFCC through its spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi, told Daily Sun on phone that the commission rejected the sentence and was going on appeal right away.
Babafemi also issued a press statement, saying the outcome of the exercise at the court in Enugu fell short of the EFCC’s expectation.
"It is believed that the essence of a plea bargain is not only for suspects to forfeit the proceeds of crime but that such should go with a sentence which will serve as deterrence.
"In view of this development, the Chairman of the EFCC, Mrs Farida Waziri has instructed the commission’s counsel to file an appeal against the verdict immediately.
"The commission will rather go the long way of prosecution than to settle for a plea bargain verdict that has no bite or will not serve any deterrence purpose," the statement said.
Also in a chat with newsmen after the judgment, counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Jacobs (SAN) said he was shocked by the option of fine handed down to Igbinedion, adding that they had expected the court to have committed Igbinedion to prison going by the degree of his offence.
Jacobs, however, added that "the fact that a former governor has been convicted is enough as this has made him (Igbinedion) to fall from grace to grass."
Igbinedion who arrived at the court at about 10: 20 a.m. in company of a few aides looked very sober as he was standing in the dock.
His counsel, however, at about 11:05 a.m. pleaded with the presiding judge that the ex-governor be allowed to sit down close to the dock, which was obliged him.
In his plea before the sentence, counsel to Igbinedion, Mr Adetunji Oyeyipo (SAN) told the court that his client was outside the country in January 2008 when the EFCC filed the suit against him in court and he voluntarily returned home to face the charge.
Besides, he said: "Your lordship will observe from records and conduct of the accused person in court that he has never been absent from court, his comportment in court has always been sober, pensive and respectful."
Oyeyipo, still pleading with the judge, said that all the time the former governor was allowed to travel out of the country, he had always returned home to continue to face his trial in court.
"With regards to the charge, the first accused is charged with the offence of neglecting to make declaration; he did not willfully or knowingly refuse to disclose his interest in an account," he said.
Oyeyipo told the court that the N3.5 million stated by the prosecutor "is not an amount he will ordinarily want to hide," urging him to consider in his sentence the stature of Igbinedion before he became governor of Edo State and as a former governor to impose on him the mildest punishment.
In all, the EFCC brought a fresh 24-count charge with 23 against Kiva Corporation Limited, which also was found guilty and asked to refund N500 million just as three properties owned by the former governor were seized.
One of the aides of the former governor who spoke of record with Daily Sun, however, pointed out that it would be unfair to expect the court to impose any more punishment on Igbinedion than it already did. According to him, of all the 24-count charge, which the EFCC brought, only one was specifically against his principal. The others, he said, were against Kiva Corporation Ltd.
But the charge which were at the last count 191, were on December 17, 2008 narrowed down to one after a plea bargain the ex-governor entered into with the anti-graft commission.
The new one-count charge that led to Igbinedion’s conviction read: "That you Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion (former governor of Edo State) on or about 21st January 2008 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court neglected to make a declaration of your interest in the Account No: 4124013983110 with a new generation bank (Name withheld) in the declaration of assets form of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 27 (3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act 2008."
When the court read out this new charge to Igbinedion he did not waste time to plead guilty, making the presiding judge, Justice Abdul Tafarati, to sentence him to a fine of N3.5 million which is equal to the amount in the said account.
The judge asked the EFCC to remand him in its custody pending the time he would pay the fine, but as at the time Igbinedion was driven out of the court premises in a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs was still in the court premises and it was not clear whether the convict had paid the fine or not.
But in a swift reaction, the EFCC through its spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi, told Daily Sun on phone that the commission rejected the sentence and was going on appeal right away.
Babafemi also issued a press statement, saying the outcome of the exercise at the court in Enugu fell short of the EFCC’s expectation.
"It is believed that the essence of a plea bargain is not only for suspects to forfeit the proceeds of crime but that such should go with a sentence which will serve as deterrence.
"In view of this development, the Chairman of the EFCC, Mrs Farida Waziri has instructed the commission’s counsel to file an appeal against the verdict immediately.
"The commission will rather go the long way of prosecution than to settle for a plea bargain verdict that has no bite or will not serve any deterrence purpose," the statement said.
Also in a chat with newsmen after the judgment, counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Jacobs (SAN) said he was shocked by the option of fine handed down to Igbinedion, adding that they had expected the court to have committed Igbinedion to prison going by the degree of his offence.
Jacobs, however, added that "the fact that a former governor has been convicted is enough as this has made him (Igbinedion) to fall from grace to grass."
Igbinedion who arrived at the court at about 10: 20 a.m. in company of a few aides looked very sober as he was standing in the dock.
His counsel, however, at about 11:05 a.m. pleaded with the presiding judge that the ex-governor be allowed to sit down close to the dock, which was obliged him.
In his plea before the sentence, counsel to Igbinedion, Mr Adetunji Oyeyipo (SAN) told the court that his client was outside the country in January 2008 when the EFCC filed the suit against him in court and he voluntarily returned home to face the charge.
Besides, he said: "Your lordship will observe from records and conduct of the accused person in court that he has never been absent from court, his comportment in court has always been sober, pensive and respectful."
Oyeyipo, still pleading with the judge, said that all the time the former governor was allowed to travel out of the country, he had always returned home to continue to face his trial in court.
"With regards to the charge, the first accused is charged with the offence of neglecting to make declaration; he did not willfully or knowingly refuse to disclose his interest in an account," he said.
Oyeyipo told the court that the N3.5 million stated by the prosecutor "is not an amount he will ordinarily want to hide," urging him to consider in his sentence the stature of Igbinedion before he became governor of Edo State and as a former governor to impose on him the mildest punishment.
In all, the EFCC brought a fresh 24-count charge with 23 against Kiva Corporation Limited, which also was found guilty and asked to refund N500 million just as three properties owned by the former governor were seized.
One of the aides of the former governor who spoke of record with Daily Sun, however, pointed out that it would be unfair to expect the court to impose any more punishment on Igbinedion than it already did. According to him, of all the 24-count charge, which the EFCC brought, only one was specifically against his principal. The others, he said, were against Kiva Corporation Ltd.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Oshiomhole: AC chieftain seeks compensation for supporters
A chieftain of the Action Congress in Edo State and former Governorship candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party in Edo State, Chief Charles Idahosa wants compensation for the people of Edo South senatorial
Oshiomohle's victory ends godfatherism-EDEBIRI
THE National Chairman of the Peoples Progressive Party , Mr. Solomon Edebiri, weekend, said that the victory of Governor Adams Oshiomohle at the Appeal Court, "signifies the beginning of the end of a cartel
Oshiomohle's is Governor of EDO State
Thank You Jesus.The lord has done exactly what he did for Barrack Obama for the Comrade Governor Adams Aliu Oshiomohle.
Long Live EDO People, Long Live the first Comrade Governor!!!!!!!!!!!
Long Live EDO People, Long Live the first Comrade Governor!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Abduction of 6 persons creates tension in Akoko Edo
TENSION heightened yesterday, in Akuku and Ewaen communities, in Akoko Edo Local Government Council of Edo state, following the alleged abduction of six Akuku indigenes in Igarra area by armed youths Monday night.
It was alleged that the men were abducted by youths suspected to be youths from the neighouring Enwan community while passing through Igarra comunity.
It would be recalled that the two communities have been enmeshed in a bloody communal clash over boundary dispute which had led to the death of over fifteen persons in the last fifteen years.
But peace however came to the area early this year when the state government brokered peace between the warring communities but the latest incident of kidnap is creating fresh tension in the area.
Vanguard learnt that following the disappearance of the Akuku indigenes, the youths of the area mobilized and headed to the disputed boundary for a show down with their counterpart from the Ewaen community.
Area, Chief Charles Osagbemeh, ensured a timely intervention in the crisis as he led a group of Akuku people to the palace of the traditional ruler to verify the incident in order to prevent a break down of law and order in the area.
But reacting swiftly, the Ewaen people disassociated themselves from the kidnap and appealed to the state government to intervene urgently so as to avoid bloodshed.
Worried by the situation, the Secretary of the council, Chief Charles Osegbemeh and other members of the Council rushed to the palace of the traditional ruler of the area to appeal to him to calm the youths down.
According to him “efforts are being made to search for the kidnap persons and we are appealing to our elders and youths to be calm so that we will not witness another round of blood shed”.
The Chairman of the state Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, Dr Francis Iyasere who was contacted, confirmed the incident, saying however that “we are yet to be brief fully on the matter.
But we are aware and we are putting every thing in place to ensure that no body is killed again in the area. We are in touch with every body including the police”.
On his part, the state Police Public Relation Officer, ASP Peter Ogboi said he was yet to be briefed officially but warned however that the police would not tolerate any brakedown of law and order in any part of the state.
It was alleged that the men were abducted by youths suspected to be youths from the neighouring Enwan community while passing through Igarra comunity.
It would be recalled that the two communities have been enmeshed in a bloody communal clash over boundary dispute which had led to the death of over fifteen persons in the last fifteen years.
But peace however came to the area early this year when the state government brokered peace between the warring communities but the latest incident of kidnap is creating fresh tension in the area.
Vanguard learnt that following the disappearance of the Akuku indigenes, the youths of the area mobilized and headed to the disputed boundary for a show down with their counterpart from the Ewaen community.
Area, Chief Charles Osagbemeh, ensured a timely intervention in the crisis as he led a group of Akuku people to the palace of the traditional ruler to verify the incident in order to prevent a break down of law and order in the area.
But reacting swiftly, the Ewaen people disassociated themselves from the kidnap and appealed to the state government to intervene urgently so as to avoid bloodshed.
Worried by the situation, the Secretary of the council, Chief Charles Osegbemeh and other members of the Council rushed to the palace of the traditional ruler of the area to appeal to him to calm the youths down.
According to him “efforts are being made to search for the kidnap persons and we are appealing to our elders and youths to be calm so that we will not witness another round of blood shed”.
The Chairman of the state Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, Dr Francis Iyasere who was contacted, confirmed the incident, saying however that “we are yet to be brief fully on the matter.
But we are aware and we are putting every thing in place to ensure that no body is killed again in the area. We are in touch with every body including the police”.
On his part, the state Police Public Relation Officer, ASP Peter Ogboi said he was yet to be briefed officially but warned however that the police would not tolerate any brakedown of law and order in any part of the state.
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