A former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, is to be arraigned on Thursday (today) at the Federal High Court, Kaduna, on corruption and money laundering charges.
The arraignment follows his arrest in Abuja on Wednesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Ibori is a chieftain of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.
The anti-graft agency was executing a Federal high Court arrest warrant.
According to EFCC spokesman, Mr. Osita Nwajah, Ibori will be charged with abuse of office, corruption and money laundering.
The ex-governor’s arrest on Wednesday was the culmination of several months of a hide-and-seek between him and the EFCC.
The arrest was effected in a commando manner within five minutes.
He was arrested at about 9.30 am.
According to investigations by our correspondents, EFCC operatives had mounted surveillance at Ibori’s residence in Asokoro Area of Abuja for 24 hours.
The surveillance followed a tip-off that the former governor had sneaked into Abuja on Monday night.
But Ibori was unaware that his movement was being monitored by the EFCC operatives, who kept vigil at different bends leading to his residence.
It was learnt that the EFCC’s vigil paid off when Ibori decided to have a breakfast meeting with his friend, Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State, at the Kwara State Governor’s Lodge.
The lodge is less than five minutes’ drive to Ibori’s residence.
A source, who witnessed the arrest of the ex-governor, said, “As soon as he stepped out, the EFCC operatives followed Ibori’s car as if they were part of his convoy.
“I think Ibori and his driver were not suspicious enough. As soon as the gate of the Governor’s Lodge was flung open, the EFCC’s operatives seized the opportunity to move in.
“Ibori had barely come out of his car when he was accosted at the entrance to the doorstep of the lodge by the operatives.
“In fact, the operatives did not allow him to take a step further. Ibori mustered sudden courage to interact with the EFCC team. He said instead of being arrested, he would be willing to follow the team.
“The security aides of Saraki, who had been on standby for the governor’s movement to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for a 10am flight to Ilorin, watched Ibori’s encounter with the EFCC team in bewilderment.
“Some of the aides went inside to inform Saraki of the arrest.”
However, the Kwara State Government gave a different account of how Ibori’s arrest was effected.
A statement by the Special Adviser (Media) to the governor, Mr. Billy Adedamola, said, “On Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at about 9.30 am, the former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori arrived at the Kwara State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja on a courtesy call on the Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
“Ibori arrived just as Governor Saraki was about leaving for the airport to catch a flight to Ilorin to preside over the State Executive Council meeting which was billed for 11am.
“Upon his arrival at the lodge, Ibori was accosted by officials of the EFCC led by one Danjuma. The EFCC officials apparently trailed Ibori to the lodge.
“The leader of the EFCC team identified himself to Ibori and stated their mission. Promptly, Ibori offered to follow them to their office. There was no fuss and no gestures of resistance of arrest whatsoever from Ibori. He, in fact, drove in his own private car to the EFCC office.
“Given the conflicting reports trailing his arrest, we want to state categorically that Chief Ibori never resided in Kwara Lodge as being insinuated in some quarters.”
Sources at the Operations Unit of the commission had informed our correspondents that the former governor had been trailed from his hotel room, in Asokoro area, where he had been since he arrived the Federal Capital city on Tuesday.
According to the source, Ibori’s host, Saraki, had attempted to bar the operatives of the commission from entering his premises.
“The governor had demanded the arrest warrant from the operatives, which they produced. Thereafter, the parties entered into negotiations which lasted several minutes, including the demand by Saraki that the EFCC officials should not take photographs of the former governor’s arrest.”
He also disclosed that the former governor, who had driven to the lodge in a Delta State Government Range Rover jeep, with number plate AE 188 TDG, was subsequently driven away to the commission’s headquarters, accompanied by Saraki.
“Obviously, Saraki is very friendly with the former governor and, therefore, wanted to be around to ensure his friend got the best possible treatment from the anti-graft agency,” our source noted.
Although he disclosed the security operatives had a difficult time before they arrested Ibori, there was really no resistance from the former governor.
When our correspondent visited the headquarters of the Commission on Wednesday morning, it was learnt that the former Delta State governor was being interrogated in one of the offices.
Nwajah’s five-paragraph statement reads, “The EFCC will tomorrow (Thursday) December 13, 2007, formally charge Chief James Onanefe Ibori, to court.
“Arraignment will be at 9am, at the Federal High Court, Kaduna.
“A Federal High Court Warrant of Arrest has been executed on Chief Ibori, the immediate past Governor of Delta State.
“He was arrested in the Asokoro area of Abuja , earlier today and has been cooperating with the Commission.
“Chief Ibori would answer to a 103-count charge of abuse of office, corruption and money laundering, among others.”
Ibori has been on the run from the London Metropolitan Police where he is wanted for corruption and money laundering activities.
Efforts by the London Met to prosecute him had been stalled by perceived non-cooperation of the Federal Government, leading to insinuations that he is enjoying the FG’s protection.
It was learnt that he had been in Abuja to meet with President Umaru Yar’Adua, although there was no confirmation that the meeting held.
His arrest by the EFCC coincided with the departure of Yar’Adua for a state visit to the United States.
Reacting on Wednesday, the Met Police said it was working closely with the EFCC in the investigation of Ibori.
In its response to an e-mail inquiry by one of our correspondents, the Met police, through a statement by its Information Officer, Kennedy Helen, said, ”The Metropolitan Police work closely with the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) and will continue to do so in the light of recent developments in this investigation. We do not discuss who we may or may not wish to speak to during the course of an investigation.”
The Met also declined to comment on how the arrest of Ibori might help its investigation of cases against the former governor.
Judicial sources said the trial had been assigned to Justice Mohammed Shuaibu, who was formerly with the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court before he was transferred to the Kaduna Division of the FHC.
A source within the EFCC also disclosed that Ibori would be arraigned with a lady associate and three firms linked with him.
But the former governor’s aides on Wednesday gave a different account of how he was arrested in Abuja on Wednesday by operatives of the EFCC.
In a statement, his Special Assistant, Media, Mr. Tony Eluemunor, stated that the former governor went to the custody of the EFCC of his own accord.
The statement reads, “Owing to the conflicting statements that have been issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Kwara State Government, I feel duty bound to render the real account of events – just for the sake of the truth. Ibori was not arrested – either at home or at the Kwara Liaison office, Abuja.
“The truth is that Chief Ibori, the former Governor of Delta State, received a telephone call on the morning of Wednesday, 12 December 2007, that his attention was needed at the EFCC headquarters, Wuse Zone Two, Abuja.
“He simply answered that call, as a law-abiding citizen – driving himself personally to the EFCC office. He was still in there at the time of issuing this statement. And by then, it is instructive that no charge has been preferred against him.
“He has asked his teeming supporters to remain calm and go about their lawful duties as he has absolute faith in the rule of law which has replaced the reign of impunity that once held sway in the land.
“Once again, I reiterate that Ibori, on his own volition, drove himself to the EFCC office Abuja to answer a telephone invitation.”
By Yusuf Alli, Festus Akanbi, Simon Ekpe, Semiu Okanlawon, Tony Amokeodo and Tobi Soniyi
The Punch
Friday, December 14, 2007
