The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has given a breakdown of how the former Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori, allegedly laundered money running into billions of dollars belonging to the state. The counter affidavit was deposed to by Yahaya Bello, a police officer with EFCC, who was the head of the team of investigators. The ex-governor’s assets have already been frozen by a London court.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Benin-City, Edo State, yesterday adjourned till Thursday, November 1, 2007 hearing of the motion on notice brought before it by the Delta State Government against the EFCC.
Counsel to the plaintiffs and defendants in the case are expected to appear before the court tomorrow to establish their respective positions. Ibori is being accused of conspiracy, official corruption, diversion and misappropriation of public funds, stealing and money laundering perpetrated by him and his aides from 1999 to 2007.
Bello detailed the alleged infractions of the ex-governor and his alleged accomplices in the affidavit.
He stated that the transfers made into the account of one Christine Ibie Ibori, Ibori’s sister, held in HSBC London was on behalf of Onovin Nig. Ltd., a company solely owned by Vincent Uduaghan, a younger brother to the present governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, the latter who had served as Commissioner for Health and Secretary to the State Government under Ibori’s Administration between 1999 and 2007.
“Investigation reveals that Onovin Nig. Ltd. was awarded a contract in December 2004 for laying of tartan tracks in Oghara Stadium at the sum of N142.9 million by the Delta State Government.
That said Onovin Nig. Ltd. had secured the services of another company, a German based firm, BSW Postfach 1180, Deutschland for the supply and laying of the tracks in Ogbara Stadium.
He said a total of 284,000.00 euros was wired to the German Company by Onovin Nig. Ltd. for the job while another sum of N77.8 million naira equivalent from the contract sum was wired to the account of Christine Ibie about the same time.
“Further investigation carried out on Onovin Nig Ltd. account revealed some monthly lodgments of Delta State Government cheques of five to seven million naira spanning from 2002 to 2007 to the region N350 million naira which the owner claimed to be payments for the supply of fuel to the Government House from Total Nig. Plc. Depot in Benin, Edo State,” he said.
Bello also stated following investigations, Total Nig. Ltd. which equally had the same contract for the supply of fuel to the Government House denied having any dealings with Onovin Nig. Ltd.
According to him, other details of the commission’s investigation are as follows:
- That transfers were made into Udoamaka’s account in HSBC London, which originated from three Assurance Bank Drafts amounting to about N140 million.
- That investigation conducted on Udoamaka’s accounts such as Sagicon Nig Ltd., Rivbbed Agro Allied, Saagaris Properties, Global Little Drops held in Oceanic and Zenith Banks revealed several lodgment of Delta State Government cheques in the neighborhood of N2 billion out of which N1.3 billion Naira were paid out between May and December 2006.
- That several cash lodgments amounting to N400 Million were also noticed both in the personal “Pearl” Account and Companies’ accounts by characters such as Ede Ogoro and Charles Isiayei whom the investigation team discovered to be Private Secretary to the Governor of Delta State and Chief Accountant of the Delta Government House respectively.
- That another payment of N4.418 billion was received by Oceanic Bank from Brisbane Ltd. via two Intercontinental Bank Manager’s Cheques for acquisition of 13% of the fertilizer company while Brisbane Ltd. is owned by Henry Imasekha who is also the sole owner of Berkeley Group.
- That investigation on the origin of the money paid Brisbane however, revealed that in 2001 Mr. Henry Masekha used Bromley Ltd. to secure a loan of N2.2 billion naira from New Nigeria Bank without any collateral or evidence of previous Banking relationship with the Bank and purchased 10% of Econet Nigeria Ltd. (now Celtel) while few weeks later ‘Delta State Government’ bought 5% of the Econet shares from Bromley Ltd. at the sum of N2.5 billion naira via a Standard Trust Bank Draft which he used in liquidating the New Nigeria Bank facility.
- That in 2006 during the taking over of V-mobile by Celtel, Bromley Ltd. sold the remaining shares to Celtel and it is from this money that Brisbane Ltd. acquired 13% of the fertilizer company.
- That investigation on share placements in Nigerian banks and companies revealed the diversion of N5 Billion from the accounts of the Delta State Government in Oceanic Bank and Zenith Bank for the purchase of Afribank shares for Chief James Ibori. The fraudulent transactions were perpetrated through the use of 14 fictitious companies such as Double Dip Nig. Ltd., Arusha Nig. Ltd., Abajim Nig Ltd., Lugba Nig. Ltd., Mombassa Nig. Ltd., Limpopo Nig. Ltd., Zaragoza Nig. Ltd., Sandton Nig. Ltd. etc.
- That the funds have since been returned to the coffers of the Delta State Government to enable the Government carry out valuable projects for the people of Delta State.
- That investigation on Wings Aviation reveals an on-going transaction between the Aviation Company and Bombardier Inc. (Canada) over the purchase of an air craft at the cost of USD 25 million for the personal use of Chief James Ibori.
- That payments were made to the UK Solicitors by Wings Aviation Parabola International Corp (a Mauritius based company owned by a Zambian (Edward Shamutete) linked to Chief James Ibori), Copex Management Service, another Mauritius firm on behalf of Erin Aviation, Pamaron Oil and Gas etc.
- That part of the money paid from Nigeria for the purchase of the aircraft was the USD 1 million Dollars paid to the Solicitors by Pamaron Oil and Gas Ltd from Fidelity Bank.
- That further investigation however revealed that the transaction was made on the order of Bi Courtney Ltd. through another company, Flodan Ltd. These two companies which moved money for Chief James Ibori by using another company, BIADOXE Ltd. as a disguise, are owned by the same person.
- That supplementary appropriation was sent to the State Assembly for the approval of over N40 billion naira between 1999 and 2005 accompanied with executive letters all dated 2004 signed by Chief Ibori for the requests. The proceeds of this massive fraud are currently being traced.
- Several billions of Naira meant for “Security Vote” by the Delta State Government from 1999-2007 were diverted by Chief James Ibori and his collaborators.
He said based on the foregoing, EFCC had concluded investigation into the aforesaid allegations of serious economic and financial crimes and was ready to prosecute all those found to be culpable in the circumstances.
The counter affidavit was deposed to on October 8, 2007 before the Benin high court. The lawyers of Delta State government told newsmen after the court had adjourned and risen from yesterday’s session, said it was laughable that it was only yesterday (Monday) that the counsel to the EFCC hurried to file a counter-motion despite the fact that the Commission was served the order of interim injunction since October 18, 2007.
An Abuja-based lawyer, Mr. Kingsley Ifeanyi Ugboma, who was present when the case came up yesterday, concurred with the Delta State counsel on their position, and went further to question the style and even the patriotic motive of the commission.
“I am a lawyer and not a client of the Delta State Government, he said, adding, “But I am aware that Delta state being a state Government that is set to reposition our dear State as one of the fastest growing global investment destinations in the world, with a dynamic, credible and well-focused leadership.”
Ugboma noted, “The point that must be made and categorically too, that they are not opposed to the EFCC’s investigations into the finances or businesses of the former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, but they object, reject, oppose and strongly too, any attempt by the Commission to probe the Security Votes of the state under the guise of investigating the former Governor.”
The court had, while granting an order of Interim Injunction prayed by the Delta State attorney-general on behalf of several government officials as well as himself to restrain the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC) on October 10, 2007, fixed the yesterday, October 30 for hearing of the Motion on Notice.
The order is in favour certain functionaries of the state government since May 1999, such that they are not compelled to co-operate or comply with the request and demands of the Commission regarding all financial and contractual documents pertaining to the period.
Prior to the granting of the interim order, there had been apprehension and fears that former Ibori might be arrested and detained by the commission.
From Richard Amayo in Benin and Julius Omon-Onabu in Warri
This Day
Wwednesday, October 31, 2007
