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.”
From Dayo Thomas in Abuja
This Day
Thursday, 17 January 2008
