President Umaru Yar’Adua on Tuesday directed the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa, to cooperate with the Metropolitan Police of London in their ongoing investigations into the allegation of money laundering against ex-governor James Ibori of Delta State.
The Special Adviser to the President on Communications, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, made this known in a statement in Abuja.
The directive came on a day that the AGF formally took over the prosecution of another former governor, Chief Orji Kalu, from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Adeniyi said that the President had already authorised a visit by Met Police officers to Nigeria to carry out their investigations.
He added that Yar’Adua was committed to the campaign against corruption.
The statement reads, “Following the ruling by the Southwark Crown Court in London lifting the restraining order on the foreign assets of Ibori, there have been media reports and comments suggesting that Yar‘Adua is not fully committed to fighting the war against corruption.
“I will like to state with all possible emphasis that nothing could be further from the truth. Yar‘Adua remains resolute and unshakable in his commitment to waging a real war against corruption.
“As he has assured the nation before, the President will never be deterred from the sincere and total prosecution of the war against corruption by the status of accused persons or whatever claims they may imagine they have on his goodwill.
“In the particular case of Ibori, contrary to suggestions that Yar‘Adua and his administration are willfully shielding the former governor from prosecution by the EFCC and the British authorities, the President has in fact authorised a visit to Nigeria by officers of the Metropolitan Police who are conducting a criminal investigation of Ibori.
“Furthermore, the President has directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to give the fullest possible cooperation to the officers of the Metropolitan Police in their quest for evidence of offences allegedly committed by Ibori.
“Because the war against corruption is a process and not an event, the President believes that it is best to follow the path of legality in its prosecution.
“He (Yar’Adua) is convinced that while this may seem unduly slow to some people, it will ultimately prove to be a much more effective and enduring approach to the war against corruption in our country.
“I reaffirm that as far as Yar‘Adua is concerned, nobody, no matter how highly placed, and no institution, no matter what it considers the rightness of its cause, will be considered a sacred cow or above the law in the bid to rid Nigeria of corrupt practices.”
Prior to the order of the President, the AGF and the Met Police had disagreed on the release of documents that could facilitate the trial of Ibori in London.
A two-man team from the Met Police had on September 13 visited Abuja but they claimed that they were rebuffed by the AGF.
But Aondoakaa on October 2 said the detectives were well received.
He also added that they exchanged complimentary cards with him.
Meanwhile, the trial of Kalu resumed on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with the AGF taking over the matter from the EFCC.
The Federal Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. Salihu Aliyu, led the prosecution team.
Aliyu was supported by an EFCC lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs who instituted the charge and had previously handled the case.
Aliyu was, however, magnanimous to allow Jacobs to present the case before Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako.
Before the hearing commenced, the two lawyers were seen by one of our correspondents browsing some files relating to the case.
But Kalu has asked the court to strike out the charges and discharge him unreservedly.
In a motion filed by his counsel, Chief Awa Kalu (SAN), the former Abia State governor also prayed for an order vacating the terms and conditions for his bail.
He based the request on the grounds that his arrest, detention and arraignment were in violation of an Abia High Court order.
Kalu claimed that the court had restrained the EFCC from arresting, detaining and prosecuting him for the alleged offences.
Aliyu and Jacobs acknowledged service of the motion and said that they would need time to study it and file a counter-motion.
The case was adjourned till November 28.
Thousands of Kalu’s supporters besieged the premises of the court located at OAU quarters in Maitama District of Abuja.
While addressing them, Kalu said that he still had hope in the judiciary and called on them to continue to maintain peace.
The former governor is being tried for corruption and money laundering.
By Tobi Soniyi and Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja
Punch
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
