Edo State Governor, Oserhiemen Osunbor has said his government has no hand in the travails of the former governor of the state, Chief Lucky Igbinedion.
He said the former governor "is on his own" in his present predicament with the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
Osunbor, who attended the stakeholders meeting on the Electoral Process in Nigeria presided by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua told State House correspondents at a break-time chat that the former governor’s tenure put the state in a debt of N20 billion. He indicated that if approached by the EFCC to assist in the investigations he would do so.
“I did not play any role in Igbinedion’s calamity. I didn’t put him in his present predicament and I have not played any role”, while noting that if approached by the commission to assist in investigation he would elect to assist the commission.
“That is hypothetical. If I am not approached I wouldn’t”.On whether he was disturbed by the sitting of the state elections tribunal, he said he was not bothered.
“No not at all. I just told you that PDP is the party on ground in Edo State and if out of 24 seats in House of Assembly PDP won 16 and AC won 8 and that elections took place simultaneously with the governorship elections then you can assess for yourself even without being a lawyer about the outcome of the April 14, 2007 elections. So no shaking,” he said.
The Governor said though the people had high level of expectations from 1999 to 2007 and the administration in place at that time made a modest effort that fell short of the expectations of the people.
He said he brought to the office of Governor a track record of achievement, performance and excellence in his previous endeavours.
“This is what I sold to the electorates, they believed in me and in spite of the reservations that some people had we were victorious in that elections".
“Knowing the high level of renewed hope and expectations by the people I wasted no time in getting down to the business of governance knowing fully well the essence of governance is that the people expect to see development, see good leadership because with good leadership people can follow and you can get a lot more done."
"I am happy that these past seven months or so that there is no questions in the minds of the people of Edo that we mean business and we are ready to bring about the fast rate of development of infrastructure which had unfortunately fallen into a state of decay and disrepair these past few years".
"We are beginning to put them right and there is renewed confidence in the democratic process and institutions and I promised the people of Edo State that every opportunity such as this that we will strive to do more so that the confidence they reposed in me in electing me as their governor is not misplaced".On the allegations that PDP in Edo state was involved in the rigging and killing during the Local Government elections. Osunbor stressed that as the dominant party in Edo State and having a comfortable two-thirds majority in the State House of Assembly as well as occupying the highest office, the PDP could not have rigged the elections.“PDP is the party on the ground in the state but unfortunately, the opposition party in the state which is AC strive on propaganda and I am sure you know why because they are people in the AC that have lived using propaganda all their working life. They have a great advantage over PDP in the area of propaganda but the reality is that PDP is the party on ground."
" Since I came on board the party has been waxing stronger and stronger and like I said those who had reservations particularly in the metropolis Benin City have nearly 100 per cent changed their minds, nearly all of them have returned to the PDP fold".“So we went into the LGA elections with high level of optimism, high level of moral, high level of preparations and this is very important. While the PDP was campaigning as we always do to win the hearts of voters and to win their votes, the opposition essentially the AC went to court and tried to prevent us from holding elections".
"They instituted not less than five cases against us in court and these were reported. They even went to court appeal and the case was dismissed because it lacked merit. Some of the allegations that they had were that the State Independent Electoral Commission was not properly constituted. But I am sure you have read how on three different occasions the court had dismissed attempts by people to have SIEC as constituted nullified because the courts believed that we acted in accordance with the provision of establishing SIEC".
" So the AC tried by all means to ensure we did not have the elections but when by December 14th the court of appeal dismissed their applications to have the elections stopped they were left with no option than to turn to violence as they had planned as their fall back position"."I am not aware that any death was recorded during the LG elections. Yes buildings were burnt but I am not aware anybody died”.On the present financial state of the state, the governor said the state government was determined to step up its internally generated revenue to N8-billion every month to be able to finance most the projects initiated by his administration within a period of four years.He also said the state government was projecting N60-billion internally generated revenue for the 2008 fiscal year.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
London Police Raid Igbinedion’s House
The London Metropolitan Police yesterday searched the London house of former Edo State governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion.
Igbinedion's house is located at the High Gate area of London, one of the high brow areas of the city.
THISDAY learnt that the search may have been conducted by the Met Police in a bid to uncover any incriminating material that may help in prosecuting Igbinedion for anti-money laundering offences in the United Kingdom.
The search is reminiscent of similar raids by the Met Police on the London residences of the impeached governor of Bayelsa State, Chief DSP Alamie-yeseigha and former Plateau State governor, Chief Joshua Dariye.
During the raid on Igbinedion’s house, Met Police detectives saw two Mercedes Benz cars and a Bentley worth £200,000 parked in the drive way of the palatial building.
They did not remove the vehicles but the detectives left with some documents, sources said.
The house was said to have been bought for £6.2m in 2000 but is now worth £6m.
Authorities of the Met Police neither confirmed nor denied the search last night when THISDAY contacted them over the telephone.
It was learnt, however, that the search may have been in response to the international manhunt for Igbinedion by the Economic and Financial Cri-mes Commission (EFCC).
Igbinedion has been on the run since he left office on May 29, 2007.
Last week, EFCC formally declared him wanted for alleged money laundering and stealing of amounts totaling N2.9bn during his tenure.
The commission took the decision shortly after it obtained an order for his arrest from a Federal High Court, Abuja.
EFCC slammed a 147-count charge of money laundering and abuse of office against the ex-governor.
Three companies - Kiva Corporation Limited, Gava Corporation Limited, and Ekpen and Sons - were also charged along with him.
Igbinedion, who ruled the state between 1999 and 2007, was said to have used his relatives to siphon the said N2.9bn.
The sum, according to the commission, was looted and transferred through numerous companies, including Gava Corporation Ltd.
Another company belonging to his brother, Mike Igbinedion, was said to have also been used to transfer part of the money.
But in his reaction last Monday, Igbinedion alleged a deliberate plan by EFCC to taint him as a "fugitive running away from justice" by rushing to court to seek an order for his arrest.
He said he would appear before the commission next Monday.
In a two-page letter to the EFCC Chairman by his lawyers, Ahonaruogho, Ahonaruogho and Co, the ex-governor said the commission was aimed at ruining the good name built over the years by his family.
Condemning EFCC’s move, Igbinedion’s counsel said: “Our client is completely saddened that the commission has, without giving an opportunity to our client to appear to defend the charges against him, rushed to court for an order for his arrest in its attempt to put our client in the court of public opinion as a fugitive running away from justice.
“The antics of the commission in obtaining the said order of court and the subsequent declaration of our client as a wanted person, clearly runs against the gains of the administration of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and the rule of law which it preaches.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that our client, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, shortly after leaving office as the governor of Edo State of Nigeria on 29th May, 2007 travelled overseas for his vacation and to attend to his personal needs. Whilst overseas, a letter of invitation was extended to him by the commission through the Edo State Government.
“When the said letter of invitation by the commission was brought to his attention, he promptly replied and requested for a fresh date to attend to the invitation.
“He later returned to Nigeria where he visited the offices of the commission on 13th and 14th June, 2007 and made written statements relating to his activities as governor of Edo State to the commission and was subsequently allowed to depart.
“At the said visit, no petition or any allegation of any criminal offence was brought to his attention by the commission and that our client has been denied the opportunity to confront his accusers or rebut the allegations against him before the said charges levied against him were filed in court.
“Our client during his said visit to the commission’s offices in Abuja made it known that he was in fact travelling back overseas.
“There has been no subsequent invitation to our client by the commission to which our client failed to appear and that it is therefore most surprising that our client can be portrayed by the commission to Nigerians and indeed the international community, as a fugitive fleeing from justice.
“Our client hereby requests that the commission should in the light of the above stated facts, approach the same court to vacate the order for his arrest and withdraw forthwith the purported declaration to our client, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, as a wanted person.”
Igbinedion's house is located at the High Gate area of London, one of the high brow areas of the city.
THISDAY learnt that the search may have been conducted by the Met Police in a bid to uncover any incriminating material that may help in prosecuting Igbinedion for anti-money laundering offences in the United Kingdom.
The search is reminiscent of similar raids by the Met Police on the London residences of the impeached governor of Bayelsa State, Chief DSP Alamie-yeseigha and former Plateau State governor, Chief Joshua Dariye.
During the raid on Igbinedion’s house, Met Police detectives saw two Mercedes Benz cars and a Bentley worth £200,000 parked in the drive way of the palatial building.
They did not remove the vehicles but the detectives left with some documents, sources said.
The house was said to have been bought for £6.2m in 2000 but is now worth £6m.
Authorities of the Met Police neither confirmed nor denied the search last night when THISDAY contacted them over the telephone.
It was learnt, however, that the search may have been in response to the international manhunt for Igbinedion by the Economic and Financial Cri-mes Commission (EFCC).
Igbinedion has been on the run since he left office on May 29, 2007.
Last week, EFCC formally declared him wanted for alleged money laundering and stealing of amounts totaling N2.9bn during his tenure.
The commission took the decision shortly after it obtained an order for his arrest from a Federal High Court, Abuja.
EFCC slammed a 147-count charge of money laundering and abuse of office against the ex-governor.
Three companies - Kiva Corporation Limited, Gava Corporation Limited, and Ekpen and Sons - were also charged along with him.
Igbinedion, who ruled the state between 1999 and 2007, was said to have used his relatives to siphon the said N2.9bn.
The sum, according to the commission, was looted and transferred through numerous companies, including Gava Corporation Ltd.
Another company belonging to his brother, Mike Igbinedion, was said to have also been used to transfer part of the money.
But in his reaction last Monday, Igbinedion alleged a deliberate plan by EFCC to taint him as a "fugitive running away from justice" by rushing to court to seek an order for his arrest.
He said he would appear before the commission next Monday.
In a two-page letter to the EFCC Chairman by his lawyers, Ahonaruogho, Ahonaruogho and Co, the ex-governor said the commission was aimed at ruining the good name built over the years by his family.
Condemning EFCC’s move, Igbinedion’s counsel said: “Our client is completely saddened that the commission has, without giving an opportunity to our client to appear to defend the charges against him, rushed to court for an order for his arrest in its attempt to put our client in the court of public opinion as a fugitive running away from justice.
“The antics of the commission in obtaining the said order of court and the subsequent declaration of our client as a wanted person, clearly runs against the gains of the administration of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and the rule of law which it preaches.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that our client, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, shortly after leaving office as the governor of Edo State of Nigeria on 29th May, 2007 travelled overseas for his vacation and to attend to his personal needs. Whilst overseas, a letter of invitation was extended to him by the commission through the Edo State Government.
“When the said letter of invitation by the commission was brought to his attention, he promptly replied and requested for a fresh date to attend to the invitation.
“He later returned to Nigeria where he visited the offices of the commission on 13th and 14th June, 2007 and made written statements relating to his activities as governor of Edo State to the commission and was subsequently allowed to depart.
“At the said visit, no petition or any allegation of any criminal offence was brought to his attention by the commission and that our client has been denied the opportunity to confront his accusers or rebut the allegations against him before the said charges levied against him were filed in court.
“Our client during his said visit to the commission’s offices in Abuja made it known that he was in fact travelling back overseas.
“There has been no subsequent invitation to our client by the commission to which our client failed to appear and that it is therefore most surprising that our client can be portrayed by the commission to Nigerians and indeed the international community, as a fugitive fleeing from justice.
“Our client hereby requests that the commission should in the light of the above stated facts, approach the same court to vacate the order for his arrest and withdraw forthwith the purported declaration to our client, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, as a wanted person.”
How Ibori Was Convicted in UK – EFCC
It was a shocking revelation yesterday, when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) came out with documents on how the former governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, was allegedly convicted by a London Court.
Counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacob, had argued that Ibori should not be granted bail, because he was already an ex-convict.
To support its claims, the Commission came out with details of his conviction yesterday.
A statement by a witness released by the Commission, shows that wife of the former governor, Mrs Theresa Nkoyo Ibori, was arrested on November 1, 2007, at Heathrow Airport, over allegation of money laundering.
Documents showiing his full description and a copy of the discharge were also made available by the EFCC.
The statement by the witness, which was signed by D.C McDonald reads, “on the 1st of November, 2007, at 2050 hours, I arrested Mrs Theresa Nkoyo Ibori at Heathrow Airport, on suspicion of being concerned in money laundering.”
“Mrs Ibori was later conveyed to the Police Station in Heathrow Airport. During the procedure of booking in Mrs Ibori at the Police Station, it is a routine to obtain copy of her fingerprint.
These fingerprints are obrtained on the computer based National Automated Fingerprint already held on the Police National Fingerprint database, then a report is in due course produced.
“As a result of Mrs Ibori’s fingerprint being taken, a report was produced, stating that the fingerprint obtained that evening were an exact match to that of a fingerprint held for an individual, Theresa Nakanda, under the police reference number 134269/90fF. they were obtained on the 28 of August 1990 at Uxbridge Station. Nakanda is Mrs Ibori’s maiden name.
“As a result of those fingerprints being matched, I was able to conduct a number of enquiries into that arrest and have established circumstances of that arrest from historical police record.
“I was able to establish that she was arrested with Mr James Ibori for theft. Mr Ibori’s fingerprint were also obtained upon Uxbridge Police Station. The circumstances of the arrest of Mr James Ibori and Miss Theresa Nakanda relates to the theft from a Wickes Store, Ruislip, London, whereby Mr Ibori was employed as a cashier, he allwoed his girlfriend, namely, Miss Theresa Nakanda to pass through his check out without making any attempt to pay for some goods. Both were charged with one count of theft under Section 1 of the Theft Act of 1968.
“I can confirm that on the 25th of January 1991, Mr James Ibori, at Isleworth Crown Court, was convicted of one count of theft. He was fined 300pounds sterling and ordered to pay 450 pounds sterling cost.
“I have made further enquiries into the criminal convictions for Mr James Ibori and can confirm that on the 7th of February 1992, at Clerkenwell Magistrates Court, London, Mr Ibori was convicted of one count charge of handling stolen goods, contrary to Section 22 of the Theft Act, 1968.
"The Circumstances of that charge relate to Mr Ibori’s possession of a stolen American Express Card belonging to another, knowing or believing that card to be stolen. The original arrest of that offence took place on the 12th of September 1991, at Euston Rail Station.
“During the procedure following his arrest, Mr Ibori provided the address, 3 Atherstone Road, Harrow, Middlesex. I can confirm that as a result of documentation in my possession, that Mr James Ibori and Miss Theresa Nakanda once owned this property.
“For the offence outlined above, Mr Ibori was fined 100 pounds sterling and ordered to pay 50 pounds sterling cost.”
Counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacob, had argued that Ibori should not be granted bail, because he was already an ex-convict.
To support its claims, the Commission came out with details of his conviction yesterday.
A statement by a witness released by the Commission, shows that wife of the former governor, Mrs Theresa Nkoyo Ibori, was arrested on November 1, 2007, at Heathrow Airport, over allegation of money laundering.
Documents showiing his full description and a copy of the discharge were also made available by the EFCC.
The statement by the witness, which was signed by D.C McDonald reads, “on the 1st of November, 2007, at 2050 hours, I arrested Mrs Theresa Nkoyo Ibori at Heathrow Airport, on suspicion of being concerned in money laundering.”
“Mrs Ibori was later conveyed to the Police Station in Heathrow Airport. During the procedure of booking in Mrs Ibori at the Police Station, it is a routine to obtain copy of her fingerprint.
These fingerprints are obrtained on the computer based National Automated Fingerprint already held on the Police National Fingerprint database, then a report is in due course produced.
“As a result of Mrs Ibori’s fingerprint being taken, a report was produced, stating that the fingerprint obtained that evening were an exact match to that of a fingerprint held for an individual, Theresa Nakanda, under the police reference number 134269/90fF. they were obtained on the 28 of August 1990 at Uxbridge Station. Nakanda is Mrs Ibori’s maiden name.
“As a result of those fingerprints being matched, I was able to conduct a number of enquiries into that arrest and have established circumstances of that arrest from historical police record.
“I was able to establish that she was arrested with Mr James Ibori for theft. Mr Ibori’s fingerprint were also obtained upon Uxbridge Police Station. The circumstances of the arrest of Mr James Ibori and Miss Theresa Nakanda relates to the theft from a Wickes Store, Ruislip, London, whereby Mr Ibori was employed as a cashier, he allwoed his girlfriend, namely, Miss Theresa Nakanda to pass through his check out without making any attempt to pay for some goods. Both were charged with one count of theft under Section 1 of the Theft Act of 1968.
“I can confirm that on the 25th of January 1991, Mr James Ibori, at Isleworth Crown Court, was convicted of one count of theft. He was fined 300pounds sterling and ordered to pay 450 pounds sterling cost.
“I have made further enquiries into the criminal convictions for Mr James Ibori and can confirm that on the 7th of February 1992, at Clerkenwell Magistrates Court, London, Mr Ibori was convicted of one count charge of handling stolen goods, contrary to Section 22 of the Theft Act, 1968.
"The Circumstances of that charge relate to Mr Ibori’s possession of a stolen American Express Card belonging to another, knowing or believing that card to be stolen. The original arrest of that offence took place on the 12th of September 1991, at Euston Rail Station.
“During the procedure following his arrest, Mr Ibori provided the address, 3 Atherstone Road, Harrow, Middlesex. I can confirm that as a result of documentation in my possession, that Mr James Ibori and Miss Theresa Nakanda once owned this property.
“For the offence outlined above, Mr Ibori was fined 100 pounds sterling and ordered to pay 50 pounds sterling cost.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)