[size=14pt]Ibori seeks political asylum in Dubai [/size]
By Akin Oyedele, Abuja
Thursday, 27 May 2010

The planned extradition of the embattled former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to the United Kingdom may not materialise as he is said to be seeking political asylum in the Arab country.

Our correspondent gathered that the twist was introduced into the matter, on Monday, when Ibori’s loyalists arrived in Dubai with documents alleging political persecution against him.

A Presidency source said that the development might provoke a diplomatic row between Nigeria and the UAE, following fears that the Arab country might grant the request.

The source said that the intelligence community on Monday submitted a report to President Goodluck Jonathan detailing the activities of the associates of the ex-governor in Dubai.

It was also learnt that the development had stalled the filing of the necessary papers for the extradition of the ex-governor to the UK

The London Metropolitan Police had since 2005 been trailing Ibori over money laundering for which some of his associates and family members are undergoing trial in the UK.

The move by Ibori’s loyalists was also said to have put paid to efforts by the Met. police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to try Ibori in Dubai.

According to our source, the influence of “this network of friends and political associates” is responsible for what he described as “the non-challant attitude” of the UAE police on the Ibori case.

He said, “For you to know the extent that they have gone, they have also pleaded to the Vaswani brothers (who are influential in the UAE) to come to the aid of Ibori by ensuring that the asylum is granted.

“The fear of the Presidency is that the UAE might grant the former governor’s request for political asylum , because of their economic interest. You know they will not want to do anything that will tamper with their interest.

“I am sure that you are also aware that many Nigerians have chosen Dubai as a place to invest and do business and to acquire landed property. Our fear is that the matter may cause diplomatic problem between us and the UAE.

“The Presidency is watching the matter with keen interest and we will also do everything diplomatically possible to assist the EFCC to have a breakthrough in the planned trial of the former governor.

“The intriguing thing about it is that since the man has been saying he is innocent of the charges, he should have come to the court to prove his innocence.

“Several governors are being tried for corruption and nobody has accused the country of persecuting him.”

When contacted on the new twist in the Ibori saga, the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi, tersely said, “I have no information on the issue you have just raised.”

However, he confirmed that the EFCC operatives travelled to Dubai last week.

The Chairman of the EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri, had on Tuesday expressed frustration with the alleged attitude of the international community in the country’s fight against corruption.

She said that they were complicit in the spate of corruption in the country as some foereign nations assisted the perpetrators to stash ill-gotten wealth in their domain.

Waziri had advocated the death penalty as the right punishment for people found guilty of corrupt practices.

She said this while receiving Senator Smart Adeyemi who paid a solidarity visit to the commission.

The EFCC said that by the time 20 corrupt people were executed others would sit tight.

Waziri said, “When I had the course to address the international community, I told them that they knew what was happening, but they had turned the other way, because African countries (leaders) were siphoning money to feed their economy.

“They know that some of our people are going to South-Africa, Dubai and UK to buy houses with cash and they know it is wrong because they know in their countries they use the credit system.

“It is not that they love us, it is because we have oil. Look at Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia and Sudan having problems, nobody lifted a finger to help them because they don’t have oil. They know that they will go bankrupt if our money is repatriated from their system.

“Whatever action that it will take for Nigeria to flight corruption, let us do it even if it is the death penalty. Believe me, that is the only way to eradic)ate corruption in Nigeria; when you execute 20 people, it will serve as a deterrent to others.”

. . .
Our correspondent gathered that the twist was introduced into the matter, on Monday, when Ibori’s loyalists arrived in Dubai with documents alleging political persecution against him. . .

Really?!!
For stealing all Delta states money and assisting a dangerous cabal whose activities bordered on treason? Wonders shall never cease!

Welcome back beaf! where have you been? Just about to open a thread to ask of your whereabout. Welcome.

mmm, Been thinking about something.

If High treason is defined by some as criminal disloyalty to one's country or people and requires that the individual have obligations of loyalty, then why is it not possible to pass a law that enables anyone who embezzles public funds to be charged with High treason or at least treason. Cause when you think of it, embezzling public funds intended for health, educational, and infrastructural purposes is the highest form of disloyalty to one's nation and people. And by taking an oath of office or being appointed to such means that the individual has "obligations of loyalty" while in that office.

Just my two cents.

BTW High treason carries a penalty of Death in most places.

Possibly wont be granted as he is wanted by 2 countries, there is not proof to suggest that Ibori is being hunted down for other reasons than to answer corruption charges. Why is he so scared to defend himself. Never knew such a coward.

This is the beginin of a song composed for his campaign in 2003___[b]Ibori[/b]Ibori na man oh odidigboigbo, you dey watch am he dey go oh odidigboigbo ,

nearest:

This is the beginin of a song composed for his campaign in 2003___[b]Ibori[/b]Ibori na man oh odidigboigbo, you dey watch am he dey go oh odidigboigbo ,

so u stil remember the song!

Does being a political refugee stop you prosecuted as a criminal? Yes, UAE may not send him to Nigeria because they accept his political refugee status, but that doesn't mean they won't send him to UK where he cannot claim political harassment but rather defend himself against criminal charges.

So he may still go to UK

why cant that guy come clean and defend himself

monkeyleg:

Possibly wont be granted as he is wanted by 2 countries, there is not proof to suggest that Ibori is being hunted down for other reasons than to answer corruption charges. Why is he so scared to defend himself. Never knew such a coward.

Hey, don't diss the guy, he is running away from "selective justice"

OAM4J:

Welcome back beaf! where have you been? Just about to open a thread to ask of your whereabout. Welcome.

Seems we were thinking same. Was abt to open a thread 2 days ago to ask of his where about.
You are welcome back beaf

@ Topic.
Are we not tired of this Ibori Game? The day they let Ibori leave Nigeria to dubai was the day the they lost him.
We all know that dubai is in seriouse need of cash to pay their debts and wht they need is people like Ibori who are ready to bring in some stolen money in bulk. Ibori got what they need, therefore, assylum automatically granted!!! Is time for the EFCC to concentrate on the criminals still at home and stop wasting our time chasing the air abt.

monkeyleg:

Possibly wont be granted as he is wanted by 2 countries, there is not proof to suggest that Ibori is being hunted down for other reasons than to answer corruption charges. Why is he so scared to defend himself. Never knew such a coward.

The same reason Ribadu was scared to defend himself. He will wait for the day one of the yaradua cabals become president and grant him presidential pardon to return to Nigeria. As far as you are the president all your criminal/corrupt friends become innocent. Thatz the cycle we are moving in Nigeria. During OBJ, Ribadu, Rufia and Ibori were saints yaradua came in Ribadu and Rufia turned to satans and Ibori maintained his saint hood. Now GJ is in charge Ribadu and Rufai riverted to siants while Ibori is the satan. Maybe Just maybe by june next yr Ibori might become saint again and another set will turn to satan.

The truth is that there will always be drama in Naija and the season never ends.

This man is rogue. He stole public fund, promoted a dangerous cabal and kidnapping groups in the Niger Delta, bought a home in Dubai, etc and now wants an asylum. Wonders shall never end in Nigeria.

sizzlers:

why cant that guy come clean and defend himself

Because he is "guilty"

Sky Blue:

Hey, don't diss the guy, he is running away from "selective justice"

LWKMooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

such sarcasm!

@nairalanders,
what happened to ur brains? nobody want to arrest ibori. all they want is ibori to be out of politics and elections come 2011.
ibori has done what they want so better u guys look for someother stories to tell.
why was ribadu not extraditted when he refused to appear before the law here in nigeria and ran away to uk.
if uk could not send ribadu back why wanting ibori? what is the guarrantted that when they notice that ibori's money is finished, they will not tell us that he dressed like a woman and excaped from uk?
uk love money so they are looking for the easiest ways to bring ibori to uk and he will release some of his funds to them.
uae on their own will not be that stupid to chase a man with too much money and connections out of their country.
it is not possible to see any nigerian politician that does not have investment in dubai, never so all of them will be siezed if they make more noise.
nairaland singers must learn new songs as this one is over.

presido1:

The same reason Ribadu was scared to defend himself. He will wait for the day one of the yaradua cabals become president and grant him presidential pardon to return to Nigeria. As far as you are the president all your criminal/corrupt friends become innocent. Thatz the cycle we are moving in Nigeria. During OBJ, Ribadu, Rufia and Ibori were saints yaradua came in Ribadu and Rufia turned to satans and Ibori maintained his saint hood. Now GJ is in charge Ribadu and Rufai riverted to siants while Ibori is the satan. Maybe Just maybe by june next yr Ibori might become saint again and another set will turn to satan.

Well said bro - Na red carpet go welcome the back in years to come - The country is one big joke.

NO MORE "MEND" BLA BLA BLA AGAIN, I WAS ON THEIR SIDE B/4 NOW THEY TURNED TO FG SINGING ONE NATION.

It will be wonderful if the UAE and nigeria fall out because of this.
That way, they will start rejecting all the corrupt old farts that run there.
(then, we can deal with them squarely)

hackney:

It will be wonderful if the UAE and nigeria fall out because of this.
That way, they will start rejecting all the corrupt old farts that run there.
(then, we can deal with them squarely)

Very true bruv

Either the UAE guys are dumb or they're very dumb,if spurrious papers show up alleging political persecution of Ibori in Nigeria,did any papers show up alleging same in the UK?let him be handucffed and bundled to the UK ASAP

BTW,what are those jokers from the EFCC still doing in te UAE,their mission is very suspicious,I'm not totally convinced they're not sypmtathetic to Ibori

Either the UAE guys are dumb or they're very dumb,if spurrious papers show up alleging political persecution of Ibori in Nigeria,did any papers show up alleging same in the UK?let him be handucffed and bundled to the UK ASAP

BTW,what are those jokers from the EFCC still doing in te UAE,their mission is very suspicious,I'm not totally convinced they're not sypmtathetic to Ibori

@rasputinn,
ur type is the reason why nigeria has refused to move forward. where were u all these while ribadu and el rufai refused to appear in court? why are u asking why all of a sudden ppl that were declared criminals have turned to be saints. am talking about confirmed criminals like atiku, ribadu and el rufai?
even if ibori is a criminal, he is operating at state level and as such is not nigeria's problem. what is happening in our electricity supply, roads, security and national armenities? why is no one answering cases on things and issues that are federal related or is nigeria ok at federal levels?
established cases of bribery(siemens and harlibuton) involving all the full time criminals in nigeria have been there for ages yet ibori all of a sudden becomes the object of divertion and u all accept this madness.

about the part where Waziri says

“Whatever action that it will take for Nigeria to flight corruption, let us do it even if it is the death penalty. Believe me, that is the only way to eradic)ate corruption in Nigeria; when you execute 20 people, it will serve as a deterrent to others.”

na true. All those armed robbers that were executed, has that served as a deterrent to future armed robbers? Corruption is so embedded in our psyche that it will take sustained action to eradicate it.

This was why they should not have sent army, airforce, navy and police to arrest one man or declare him wanted dead or alive.

They have been outmanouvered yet again.

Next please.

If Ibori likes he can sit tight in Dubai, its time d EFCC follow up on other corrupt individuals nd mak d country 2 hot 4 them and let them go into exile at least dat wld save us d cost of prosecutin them and in most cases wat have we gained in d ones we convicted in d past, if all corrupt or majority of d corrupt politicians seek asylum offshore, we cld enjoy elections without their undue nd overbearing influence on the electoral process.

@ OAM4J and princekevo.
Thanks ever so much for the kind words. I've been so incredibly occupied that the normal 24 hours is just not enough. While some of the things I’m doing are personal, the one closest to heart is building a World class technology framework to bring biz opportunities and tangible development to the masses. It’s a lot of effort, but it is the sort of thing each and everyone of us must participate in at some level to snuff the corrupt oxygen that Nigeria’s vampires, demons, IBB’s, paedophile Yerima’s, Ibori’s and various other little Lucifer’s survive on.

. . .I hope I haven't gone overboard  .

BEEEAAAAAFFFFFF,
Welcome back my kin-folk. No comot like now Wadoo!!!

Beaf:

@ OAM4J and princekevo.
Thanks ever so much for the kind words. I've been so incredibly occupied that the normal 24 hours is just not enough. While some of the things I’m doing are personal, the one closest to heart is building a World class technology framework to bring biz opportunities and tangible development to the masses. It’s a lot of effort, but it is the sort of thing each and everyone of us must participate in at some level to snuff the corrupt oxygen that Nigeria’s vampires, demons, IBB’s, paedophile Yerima’s, Ibori’s and various other little Lucifer’s survive on.

. . .I hope I haven't gone overboard  .

Carry go my brother. We dey behinde you kampe!

and feel free to share it, if there is something we can contribute

The comments today are very clean and affable. keep it up. On Ibori claiming asylum, please lets not be fooled. He is acting a well rehearsed script. I have it on authority that this was all arranged by some so called PDP cabal in exchange for peace in his former state. They suspected the Jamaica type of fight to finish in defence of the claimed humane drug baron and structured a deal to smugle him out. So for anyone to be going after him in dubai is really silly and grandiosely deceptive. Well the truth is that if he escape[es Naij EFCC justice, he will not escape UK one. Under the United Nation's convention on Human rights, he will only be granted asylum if he can prove that he is running away from persecution instead of prosecution. Everyone is indeed very clear that he is running away from prosecution and not the former. It is pay back time and real men fight to finish so he must stay back to fight and clear his name. What a shame? How are the mighty falling. He must be careful UK may try Umaru Dikko on him. They are not naija and their secret service MI5 is deadly. remember their connivance with Guantanamo bay. Simple truth, It is pay back time.

chidichris:

@rasputinn,
where were u all these while ribadu and el rufai refused to appear in court?

I was somewhere I Delta State,going through the heaps of evidence of mr ibori's malfeasance and grand raping of Delta State treasury in cahoots with his wife,whores and relatives,mmmm and maybe some acolytes

BTW Chidi,

Your type are the reason people feel emboldened to steal from their states