yea let obey the rule of law
AN ACUSED IS NOT GUILTY UNTIL PROVED OTHERWISE BY A COMPETENT COURT OF LAW
soldiers don spoil our head, we dont even know the different between LAW and DECREE

AN ACUSED IS NOT GUILTY UNTIL PROVED OTHERWISE BY A COMPETENT COURT OF LAW

You know why we should all follow rule of law: it is the best form of transparency & consistency.

It is Ibori today, it could be you tomorrow:

one rule must apply to everyone and thats 'RULE OF LAW'

It is better for criminal to go unpunished(he will be caught another day) than an innocent man be punished(more people becoming criminal)

It is better for criminal to go unpunished(he will be caught another day) than an innocent man be punished(more people becoming criminal)

Trust Nigerians!. They will carry this "rule of law thing" as if they invented it. Who is talking about
guilt or innocence here? I thought the issue was whether the AGF and by extension Yar Adua is
aiding suspected treasury looters to get off the hook while shouting "ruling of law" at the same
time?

Oh well, in that case, Nigeria is the wealthiest country on earth. None of the past governors took
anything that did not belong to them! There is no point even trying to find out since we all know.
That seems to be the new rule of law, lets move on!

@ Babasin, you keep claiming that the action of the AG answering a personal letter from a counsel is right. Please read this.

The law is not black and white, the AGF's office has no business getting meddled into such a case except buying into the conspiracy arguement that he is playing out the govts script, which is a whole different arguement. The arguemet is given there is no influence from his boss, is it the duty of the AG to be writing such clean bill of health letters on suspects still been investigated.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2007100513392178

The decision of the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, Chief Michael Aondoakaa SAN to frustrate the prosecution of the former state governors at home and abroad has continued to confirm that the Yar’Adua regime has maximum tolerance for corruption. Andookaa SAN gave a clean bill of health to ex governor,James Ibori which led to the vacation of the freezing order on his £ 35 million assets suspected to have been looted from the treasury of Delta state government,

The unwarranted intervention of Aondoakaa in the London case is a violation of the provision of Article 43 of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption which requires all countries that have ratified the Convention to cooperate with each other in the recovery of ill gotten assets of their public officers. It is worthy to note that Nigeria is one of the 38 countries in the 191 member states of the United Nations that have ratified the Convention.

Having grossly betrayed his OATH of office in order to shield some sacred cows from investigation and prosecution and thereby exposed Nigeria to odium and ridicule before the international community Yaradua ought to remove Chief Aondoakaa SAN as the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice without any further delay.


Please in your response don't come and talk it is right procedure when clearly it is not, provide juduicial facts either from the Nigerian constitution of any ratified Convention, which this article relies on.

The summary is that his action contravenes Article 43 of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.

Please see another article from the BBC, the international world can see the hypocricy, why didnt they call it "rule of law", because it clearly isnt, when is it the rule of law for the AG to write a letter, no one is saying he is guilty until  that is done by a competent court (rule of law) but obstructing justice is not rule of law it is abuse of office.

The personal intervention of the AG constitutes abuse of office, and he should be sacked. Assuming the non existance of the conspiracy theorist that is.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7027350.stm

I just can correlate how rule of law and obstructing justice are ideals of a democratic society, please Nigerians wake  up.

Andookaa SAN gave a clean bill of health to ex governor,James Ibori which led to the vacation of the freezing order on his £ 35 million assets suspected to have been looted from the treasury of Delta state government,

Please read between the line.

It if was abuse of procedure; why did British Judge acceptted the letter from AGF?, why did British Jugde acted based on this letter?

He should have simply thrown it as invalid for this case.

Truth remains; AGF can respond to questions by any one in the world if they need to know the true legal situation of an individual etc in Nigeria.

"The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice also corrected insinuations in the media that he wrote a letter to the London Court in respect of the case involving Chief Ibori. He explained that his letter of  August 7, 2007 was only a response to  a letter from Chief Ibori's counsel, Mr Speech Bircham of the City Dispute Resolution Solicitors, London", the statement said.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=91357

EFCC screwed-up. They should accept responsiblity and ensure this does not happen again. simple

babasin:



Please read between the line.

It if was abuse of procedure; why did British Judge acceptted the letter from AGF?, why did British Jugde acted based on this letter?

He should have simply thrown it as invalid for this case.

Truth remains; AGF can respond to questions by any one in the world if they need to know the true legal situation of an individual etc in Nigeria.


EFCC screwed-up. They should accept responsiblity and ensure this does not happen again. simple

if u na lawyer the uni wey u graduate from need to change their ENGLISH TEACHER.

mikeansy,

if you have better arguement to topic at hand; write or keep your peace!

babasin:

EFCC screwed-up. They should accept responsiblity and ensure this does not happen again. simple

How can the EFCC have screwed up when the investigation and subsequent freezing of assets was carried out by the Metropolitan Police in London?

@ Babasin, i asked you to present judicial facts from the Nigerian constitution or ratified convention please can you do that and not this lame response.

babasin:

Please read between the line.

It if was abuse of procedure; why did British Judge acceptted the letter from AGF?, why did British Jugde acted based on this letter?

He should have simply thrown it as invalid for this case.

Truth remains; AGF can respond to questions by any one in the world if they need to know the true legal situation of an individual etc in Nigeria.
EFCC screwed-up. They should accept responsiblity and ensure this does not happen again. simple

The British judge is not the standard in Nigeria, he respected the opinions of the office of the AG and took it into consideration in giving a judgement, it was part of the circumstances he considered.

The office has been abused, because the holder is influencing a process, the question we should be asking is in the absence of that letter will the outcome have been the same, why couldnt Ibori's lawyer have asked the police or the Director of Public Prosecution who it that would have the facts on if anyone in Nigeria has been prosecuted in a Nigerian court, but no he chose the AG, because he realised that the process could be unduly influenced.

The AG has no business obstructing justice, because that is what he has done, since your knowledge is more that other learned individuals and the democratic western societies we are emulating. Your so called rule of law in line with that of the current government clearly tells us that its all about abusing proviledges.  This is how we loose respect in the international world, where in the world do public office holders meddle in such, is this AG the first AG to be asked for such a letter, why drag the name of the office in the mud, the little respect we were starting to gain is already being eroded.

What has the EFCC got to do with this, you are now the one being clearly emotional and exhibiting personal bias.

More from the Guardian. . .

The Ibori Case:
British Police Embarrassed
FROM TUNDE OYEDOYIN, LONDON

THE legal victory of former Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori, was a huge embarrassment to the Metropolitan Police, The Guardian learnt yesterday.

Consequently, the British law enforcement agents and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), may not readily accept request made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to investigate any case of money laundering against any Nigerian public official.

An official in the CPS said the security agents and the CPS were surprised, and indeed embarrassed by the speed with which the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa, "reacted and wrote the letter of support for the (former) governor."

"Really, this baffled both the prosecutors and his defence lawyers," the source said, adding, "it's as if Ibori has the Federal Government of Nigeria on his palm."

It was gathered that having observed that the same government agency (EFCC) that initiated the case had suddenly lost interest and was no more providing the evidence to nail their man, "the CPS lawyers and the Met Police threw in the towel, knowing that Ibori could turn around and claim damages through his legal team."

"The AGF was so quick; he was prompt to write the letter," the source stressed. "There was more to it, and Ibori knows that the government was on his side."

The source said that had the CPS wanted to push the case further without the support of the EFCC that initiated the allegations, "this could result in millions of damages in compensation for the former governor."

It added that the case became "an embarrassment to the British Police and they knew that if Ibori took the case further, he could claim damages and get millions of pounds for it."

Making further revelation, the source said, not only was it a defence strategy to get Ibori to request a letter from the Attorney General; his defence team knows "that if the strategy worked against the former governor of Bayelsa State, then it would work in Ibori's favour."

Moreover, "the British government knows the impact of such a letter from a country like Nigeria; they know it will carry a lot of weight."

"When a case like this is on, the defence tries all possible means to help their client; so, that was why they (defence lawyers) suggested it to Ibori," the source said.

On what the feelings were among the CPS lawyers and the Metropolitan Police, with regard to future cases, the source replied: "They won't take them seriously; they will take their time because this was really embarrassing for them."

"They were no longer getting support from the Nigerian government. So, I can tell you that when such requests come in future, they won't just jump at them."

Another source in New York told The Guardian last night that "all the planning and eventual frustration of the Ibori court case in London were a collaboration between the office of the Attorney General and the former governor.

The source recalled the AGF's attendance of the Nigerian Lawyers Dinner in New York recently, arriving there on Wednesday for an event that was slated for Saturday.

He camped up at the Astoria and Ibori was allegedly seen at the hotel. The AGF returned a week later to New York as part of Yar'Adua's entourage to the UN general assembly.

According to the source, Ibori came to the UN assembly as a delegation of the Nigerian Government and was issued a UN pass for that purpose. He reportedly met with top government officials but never attended any functions at the UN.

Surprisingly, said the source, "the UN Pass later found its way to the Southwark Crown Court in London, as part of the joker presented to get the order of restrain lifted on Ibori's account."

Ibori's lawyers at Speechys are reportedly "very happy" about this and they never denied that the AGF's letter was used, though they refused to discuss details of the case and how much they make of Ibori as legal fees citing Attorney/Client confidentiality.

The source stated that the AGF had planned to testify on behalf of Ibori in person but the revelations of his alleged meetings with Ibori in the US made him jettison the idea.

The case was said to drag on for long till October 1 because the London Police made a strong case about Ibori in the meticulous documentation of their findings over two years, in an investigation code-named "Operation Tureen."

"Even Yar'Adua was said to have been shocked with the Metropolitan Police findings on Ibori, which exclude his Nigerian and the US end of his transactions; they were basically his assets in the UK and Canada," the source said.

It was learnt that the police went to court to get an order that lasted for two months, hoping that the Nigerian government would provide immediate support and backing as they did with Dariye and Alamieyeseigha.

"But they did not get the backing. Instead, what they got in court was the Attorney General's letter to Ibori's lawyers, which letter the defence used to maximum effect," the source added.

I wonder why Ono is not here to shed more light on this topic or defend his "brethren"  James Onanefe Ibori--JOI---at least.  Ono, please where are you?

@Topic.  This is EFCC at work mind you.  The anti-corruption Mogul/Guru or should I say "Gworo"!  What a joke!

It was gathered that having observed that the same government agency (EFCC) that initiated the case had suddenly lost interest and was no more providing the evidence to nail their man, "the CPS lawyers and the Met Police threw in the towel, knowing that Ibori could turn around and claim damages through his legal team."

again, that shows EFCC screwed up.

The question; is the content of AGF letter true or false? TRUE. case closed.

EFCC should learn from this and ensure that a criminal record is established against corrupt officials in Nigeria before trying to get their foreign assets frozen.

again, that shows EFCC screwed up.

The question; is the content of AGF letter true or false? TRUE. case closed.

EFCC should learn from this and ensure that a criminal record is established against corrupt officials in Nigeria before trying to get their foreign assets frozen.

And you honestly think the EFCC will get any serious cooperation or go ahead from this AGF to do what you just suggested?

Its very convenient for you to blame the EFCC as usual, but its not lost on the entire world (mind you the outside world has
now clued in on this) that the current government doesn't seem to be that concerned with going after the likes of Ibori for
whatever reason. Isn't it strange that a foriegn government seems more interested in prosecuting in our thieving governors
than our own government?

Oh well, very soon every Nigerian will be so versed on the specifics of rule of law while the mass decay continues. . . I am
sure you people will continue to love that.

And you honestly think the EFCC will get any serious cooperation or go ahead from this AGF to do what you just suggested?

yes. they should bring their facts to gether and press charges for those erring corrupt people. If they dont get any good response; they should table it with Nigerians.

This is democracy and nigerians have a voice but I guess EFCC already damaged itself when people like OBJ, Annenih are walking free; so nigerians may not listen to them.

lesson:
if you really want a reform to work. It is must be 'fair to all' and 'consistent', which sadly EFCC did not follow.

Babasin is defending the indefensible

The AGF replied Ibori's counsel with a letter dated 7th August while that of Ibori's counsel in london was dated 4th August, in essence it took him 3 days to reply Ibori's request.

Met Police wrote him a letter dated 30th August but the AGF only sent a request to EFCC to furnish him dossiers on Ibori by Friday 28th September when the case will be decided on Moday 1st October in London. In essence it took him 1month to even research dossiers from the EFCC.

Is it not curious that their could be such a disparity in both reactions?

How about the timing of the letter to EFCC, on a friday when the case will be decided on Monday knowing that Saturday and Sunday are not working days.

Let us for one stop playing politics with our future and those of our children.

This AGF claims he acted on Orji's case in other not to be committed to Prison when it is on record that the so called suit filed by Kalu does not have him as a respondent.


Babasin I don't know what your interest is, but for the sake of our children's destiny let us be rationale.

@McKren,

The AGF replied Ibori's counsel with a letter dated 7th August while that of Ibori's counsel in london was dated 4th August, in essence it took him 3 days to reply Ibori's request.

Met Police wrote him a letter dated 30th August but the AGF only sent a request to EFCC to furnish him dossiers on Ibori by Friday 28th September when the case will be decided on Moday 1st October in London. In essence it took him 1month to even research dossiers from the EFCC.

I don't hold brief for AGF but BP police should have seek adjourment till they get their own letter from AGF. It is that simple.

If this letter is 'KEY'; why can't BP police seek adjourment, why can't the british Judge delay judgement?  But they are eager to accept only letter from Ibori's lawyer by AGF.

Even at that content of AGF letter to Ibori lawyer are TRUE FACTS

Also if AGF did not give BP a response to their letter, the British judge can simple rule that letter from AGF to Ibori lawyer would not be tenable for this case.

A witness cannot refused to be cross-examined by defence or prosecuting lawyer as AGF is being cross-examined here.

People should stop being emotional and look at facts and rule of law.

Note: I don't not support corruption in any disguise but 'RULE OF LAW' and true facts must prevail at all time. Today it is Ibori, tomorrow it could be anyone.

And your facts and rule of law support the AGF to reply Ibori's counsel's questions about Ibori's allegation (within days) without liasing with the appropriate agency handling the investigation but then will choose to write a delayed letter to EFCC when the other party makes the same request.

Is that not double standards?

This is not about whether the Judge should have adjourned or how the justice system works in Britain, it is about the sloppiness of our Attorney General. A public servant.

Let us talk about a rule of law that makes sense, not Aondoakaa's version.

And your facts and rule of law support the AGF to reply Ibori's counsel's questions about Ibori's allegation (within days) without liasing with the appropriate agency handling the investigation but then will choose to write a delayed letter to EFCC when the other party makes the same request.

Correction: AGF is not liable to liase with any agency if he knows the full details of what is needed. He simply bears responsibility. AGF needs to answer why he replied fast or slow to each letter.

Fact remains: If this LETTER is so crucial and the BP/EFCC are serious; they would have asked for adjourment, get AGF to reply their letter or ask the Judge to discount the Ibori's letter as invalid.

They did neither; because its not the letter or speed it was written/replied that got the case won but the CONTENT; which are TRUE FACTS.

EFCC/BP basically cannot dispute the CONTENT of that letter.

A lawyer's brief is to do everything for his client to WIN and not loose.

Ono! Where are you?

Babasin

We learn everyday and lets listen to the voice of reason.

1. London Met police may only continue a case against Ibori if they see favourable signs from Nigeria otherwise they will back off.
All this talk about they should have delayed or adjourned this or that simply makes no sense, because UK Gorvernment is not ready to jeorpardise UK National Interests. If London Met police has good reason to believe the FG is assisting Ibori evade justice they will simply back off no matter how much help they would have loved to offer. It is that simple, that is how international diplomacy work.

2. The AGF has the right to answer requests if he claims to have full details on them, but a situation where he chooses to have full details on replying Ibori's cousel but chooses to consult EFCC in replying London Met police when both Plaintif and defendant are practically asking the same questions (i.e. whether Ibori is wanted for Money Laundering in Nigeria) smacks of double standards.

3. Granting accelerated response within days to Ibori's defence counsel and then spending one month to even attempt to gather information to reply London Met police is simply sloppy.



This is not about attacking British justice system, they can only help Nigeria find justice. They will not impose Justice if our Government does not want one. Here in lies the need to compel the Attorney General to desist from his Clandestine motives.

McKren:

Babasin

We learn everyday and lets listen to the voice of reason.

1. London Met police may only continue a case against Ibori if they see favourable signs from Nigeria otherwise they will back off.
All this talk about they should have delayed or adjourned this or that simply makes no sense, because UK Gorvernment is not ready to jeorpardise UK National Interests. If London Met police has good reason to believe the FG is assisting Ibori evade justice they will simply back off no matter how much help they would have loved to offer. It is that simple, that is how international diplomacy work.

2. The AGF has the right to answer requests if he claims to have full details on them, but a situation where he chooses to have full details on replying Ibori's cousel but chooses to consult EFCC in replying London Met police when both Plaintif and defendant are practically asking the same questions (i.e. whether Ibori is wanted for Money Laundering in Nigeria) smacks of double standards.

3. Granting accelerated response within days to Ibori's defence counsel and then spending one month to even attempt to gather information to reply London Met police is simply sloppy.


This is not about attacking British justice system, they can only help Nigeria find justice. They will not impose Justice if our Government does not want one. Here in lies the need to compel the Attorney General to desist from his Clandestine motives.

You have many nails on this head of a topic.  No one could have put it better. Same thing happened in the Andy Uba case in America. The Nigerian government did not find him wanting in Money laundering schemes so who were they to press the matter?

Same thing happened in the Andy Uba case in America.

Andy case different. He pleaded with US courts and he was fined for his 'offence' not crime.

EFCC should have taken the matter up when Andy arrives in Nigeria and press 'Nigeria' charges against him so that he has a criminal record in Nigeria.

As it stands EFCC screwed that again.

Andy Uba is free to become whatever in likes in Nigeria since no legal rope on this neck; thats why he contest and won Governorship.

In all these cases, I find EFCC liable.

babasin:

Andy case different. He pleaded with US courts and he was fined for his 'offence' not crime.

EFCC should have taken the matter up when Andy arrives in Nigeria and press 'Nigeria' charges against him so that he has a criminal record in Nigeria.

As it stands EFCC screwed that again.

Andy Uba is free to become whatever in likes in Nigeria since no legal rope on this neck; thats why he contest and won Governorship.

In all these cases, I find EFCC liable.

And I am glad that Andy Uba is still the governor of Anambra state.   I did not know "money laundering" was an offence and not a crime.

Back to what Mckren stated-earlier.  No government in this world will take us seriously if we glorify some sacred cows and practice selective judiciary to the highest bidder.  Why should the government of America worry about Andy Uba, when the Nigerian government was solidly behind him?

Not every country is as stupid as Nigeria.  Why should they jeopardize their interests by worrying about Nigerian political criminals who are backed up by the Nigerian government?  That is why most of them do not take Nigeria seriously.  Andy Uba's case spent 3 years in court I believe--all for the arm twisting of the Nigerian government.  Who can blame them?

So the gist now is not only is the EFCC incompetent but the Brits are incompetent as well?
Na wa for our new brand of "rule of law".

For the one talking about selectivity, just in case you haven't heard, there is a new leader
in Nigeria. If that leader and the AGF is concerned about selectivity in the past, they have
a very funny way of going about restoring it.

So much for objectivity: assuming the EFCC is that incompetent, nothing smells fishy to
you guys on the part of the AGF when he sends a letter to the EFCC on Septemeber 28
(Friday) and hearing for the case was scheduled to begin on October 1 (Monday) which
incidentally also happens to be a public holiday in Nigeria, meaning that unless the EFCC
was reading the AGF's mind, the earliest they could have responded was on October 2.
You guys are funny!!!!

One thing is clear though. The fact that this issue refuses to go away and is virtually front
page news on most of the dailies is a clear indication that this government and the AGF
are on the wrong side of the battle. By a stroke of his pen the AGF has shifted the debate
from the very vague "rule of law" to defending its explicit attempt to shield ex-governors
from prosecution, the very same thing they have been denying.

Britain to appeal, seeks more evidence on Ibori
From Mike Osunde (Benin), Lemmy Ughegbe (Abuja) and Hendrix Oliomogbe (Asaba)
FAR from being over, the trial of former Delta State governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, in the United Kingdom may have just begun.

The British government has announced plans to appeal the court decision, which, on Monday last week, vacated an earlier order freezing Ibori's assets put at ?35 million.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), disclosed the British government's decision yesterday. The minister said that Britain has sought fresh evidence on Ibori from him.

These disclosures were contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Attorney-General, Taye Akinyemi and made available to The Guardian in Abuja yesterday.

Although the minister's spokesman explained that the British government's position was communicated to the Federal Government vide a letter by the British Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. Ken Macdonald, a Queen's Counsel, addressed to the Attorney-General of the Federation, he did not attach a copy of Macdonald's letter to the statement he made available to The Guardian.

Efforts to get the British Prosecutor's letter by The Guardian last night also failed.

The statement issued by the AGF's spokesman reads:

"The present administration will not shield anyone accused of corrupt practices from justice. All it is concerned with and which it enjoins all Nigerians to imbibe is the fact that this must be done within the confines of the rule of law and decent behaviour.

"The Honourable Attorney-General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN) restated the government position following the receipt of a letter from the British Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. Ken Macdonald, QC exonerating the AGF of any complicity in the ruling vacating the restraint order on Chief Ibori by the Southwalk Crown Court.

"According to the letter from the DPP, 'the main factor behind the judge's decision was the length of time the investigation has taken and the lack of progress towards a decision whether or not to charge Mr. Ibori.'

"The DPP expressed his disappointment over his inability to 'assure the judge that we have the full cooperation of the Nigerian authorities and indeed had to concede that there are real practical difficulties about getting unimpeded access to evidence obtained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Nigeria.'

"The British Director of Public Prosecution further informed his Nigerian counterpart of the intention to appeal the decision to discharge the restraint order and an application to stay the decision pending determination of appeal.

"He further urged the AGF to prevail on the investigating agency in Nigeria to make available to him evidence it has obtained of the offences committed by Mr. Ibori in view of the 'real practical difficulties about getting unimpeded access to evidence obtained by the EFCC in Nigeria.'

"The purpose of writing is to seek your assurance that the requested evidence will be made available for transmission back to the United Kingdom.'

"Underlining the importance of obtaining the evidence, he informed the AGF that non-obtaining may lead to abandoning our 'appeal against discharge of the restraint order.'"

Meanwhile, National Conscience Party Chairman, Osagie Obayuwana, says it is time President Yar'Adua spoke up on the aborted investigations into allegations of corruption against Ibori by the British Police.

Obayuwana said Nigerians need to know how much the former governor contributed to the President's campaign fund to warrant his being protected by the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Besides, he said the President should also say if the contributions by Ibori were within the limit permitted by law.

The NCP chairman spoke in Benin yesterday in reaction to the ongoing debate over the controversial letter to Ibori's lawyers by Aondoakaa, which allegedly aborted investigations that led to the vacation of the court order freezing some assets of the former governor.

Obayuwana said apart from Ibori, the President should also speak up on which of the agencies was stalling the prosecution of former governors already arraigned in court.

"We are waiting for him to speak on these issues because of the shame that has been brought to the image of this country and on whose behalf the Attorney-General of the Federation claim to have attested."

Meanwhile, former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola yesterday in Asaba called for caution in the face-off between the EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Ajibola said that the position of the Attorney-General is a very strategic one and as such, the occupier must ensure that he does every thing that is just, right, proper and unpolluted. "He must not be seen to compromise the very heavy position that has been given to him in that constitution," he said.

The legal luminary, who was in the Delta State capital to pay a courtesy call on Governor Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, told reporters that the controversy between Aondoakaa and the chairman of the EFCC, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, notwithstanding, efforts must be made at all times to ensure that those who are corrupt are dealt with and in accordance with the rule of law and due process.

The former Justice of the International Court at the Hague, the Netherlands urged both Aondoakaa and Ribadu to exercise caution, emphasising that even though the powers and functions of the Attorney-General are entrenched in the constitution, it must not be forgotten that the EFCC was set up by an act of the National Assembly.

The former Minister of Justice said: "Of course, you are aware also of the fact that EFCC has its own law. No doubt about that. But that is what we call an adjectival law."

, Culled from gaurdian

This AGF must truly be living in self delusion or he must think he is the only educated person in Nigeria.

That the DPP in Britain urged him to prevail on EFCC to make evidence available translates into exonerating him (AGF) from complicity. God knows what he expects the British Authorities to write.

Our Honourable AGF does not even think Nigerians are brilliant enough to compare the Statement that the UK DPP blamed the failure at the court on lengthy time to gather facts, lack of co-operation by the Nigerian Authorities and the fact that he Micheal Aondoakaa only wrote EFCC on September 28th when he recieved a request dated August 30th. He does no even think that Nigerians are smart enough to know that September 28th was a Friday, 29th Saturday, 30th Sunday, Monday 1st October in which the case was going to be decided in London was a Public Holiday in Nigeria.

What a school boy spin, those who know Aondoakaa should tell him that the world is a global village. They should also inform him that Nigerians and EFCC are not unmindful of the fact that to fight corruption in Nigeria we have to fight Micheal Aondoakaa first.


Heard he will have to gather the evidence available at the EFCC and send to London Met for the appeal. If he tries to edit or replace the dossiers he recieves from EFCC or worst still chooses to bury the whole process in logistics and bureaucracy then he is simply unaware the capabilities of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

Oya over to Saharareporters,

We need a copy of the letter from the British Authorities to once again decipher the lies from the truth.

Well events have now showed that I was correct.

"The British Director of Public Prosecution further informed his Nigerian counterpart of the intention to appeal the decision to discharge the restraint order and an application to stay the decision pending determination of appeal.

"He further urged the AGF to prevail on the investigating agency in Nigeria to make available to him evidence it has obtained of the offences committed by Mr. Ibori in view of the 'real practical difficulties about getting unimpeded access to evidence obtained by the EFCC in Nigeria.'


This is what BP/EFCC should have done earlier instead of you all blaming AGF for reply a letter with true facts.

Now let see what Ibori's lawyer will do now.

Without any protest from the public

Micheal Aondoakaa is capable of replacing or editing any evidence provided for the appeal. As the evidence will still need to go through his office.

And talking about being right, what about that statement in the letter

[quote[b]]"Underlining the importance of obtaining the evidence, he informed the AGF that non-obtaining may lead to abandoning our 'appeal against discharge of the restraint order.'"[/b]
[quote][/quote]

And BBC speaks,

Nigeria official's $35m refrozen 

Mr Ibori's assets are said to include a jet and London property
The London High Court has ordered the refreezing of former Nigerian governor James Ibori's $35m (£17m) assets that police think are the proceeds of crime.
The assets, believed to include a Bombardier private jet, were the subject of a restraint order in August.

It was lifted last week thanks in part to a letter from Nigeria's attorney general saying Mr Ibori had not been "charged, tried or convicted".

But now Mr Ibori cannot use his assets while the police make their case.

He is one of several former Nigerian state governors who remain wanted for questioning in London on money-laundering charges.

Setbacks

It was in August this year that London's Metropolitan Police Service first obtained a freeze on the former Delta State governor's worldwide assets under Britain's Proceeds of Crime Act.

 
The $35m is said to include a Bombardier private jet and property in London as well as money in bank accounts.

The law permits police in Britain to apply for suspect monies to be frozen in the pre-trial stage of a criminal investigation.

Mr Ibori's London-based lawyers, Speechly Bircham, obtained a letter from Nigerian Attorney General Michael Aondoakaa stating that Mr Ibori had been investigated but not charged, tried or convicted in Nigeria "relating to money laundering or any other offences".

This helped persuade Judge Goymer of Southwark Crown Court that there was insufficient proof the assets were the proceeds of crime and he vacated the August order last week.

But the Met told the BBC News website that they have been granted leave to appeal against Judge Goymer's ruling.

"Leave to appeal the discharge was granted at the High Court on Monday 8 October, and pending a full appeal by the Crown the Application of Restraint has been reinstated," a Met spokesman said.

No date has been set for that appeal hearing, so in effect there is no time limit imposed on the police who confirm that the investigation by their Police Proceeds of Corruption Unit into Mr Ibori's affairs continues.

Nigeria's war on corruption

A series of recent setbacks into corruption investigations have led several commentators to question newly elected Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's commitment to tackling grand corruption as well as the actions and motives of his attorney general.

Another former governor wanted for questioning in London is Joshua Dariye of Plateau State.

In May this year the Nigerian government obtained a judgement granting them the $850,000 proceeds from the sale of a London property he owned, and in June they also obtained a judgement in their favour of the $5.7m (including accumulated interest) seized from Mr Dariye's UK bank accounts.

Observers say that Nigeria still has to overcome a culture in which political office is seen as bringing huge rewards and where political allegiances matter more than honour or honesty. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7035427.stm

Gosh someone should Obtain the so called letter Aondoakaa claims the British wrote him which exonerated him from complicity.
This AGF is shameless, he is still telling lies, I promise him very soon the details of that letter will be available on the World Wide Web.

that guy is threading where even angels fear to thread, though he has treid to save face, the drama continues

Twenty-four hours after President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua announced that he had authorised a visit to Nigeria by the London Metropolitan Police conducting a criminal investigation of Chief James Ibori, the Delta State government has secured a court injunction to halt the process.
A Federal High Court in Benin City, Edo State, yesterday issued an order of interim injunction, which restrains the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from carrying out certain actions against some serving and erstwhile office holders in Delta State, including former governor, Ibori.
It is not yet clear what effect this would have on the Met Police investigation since the EFCC has conducted one earlier.
The order, signed by the Presiding Judge, Justice G.C. Okeke, was in response to an ex-parte application by the Attorney-General of Delta State, the Delta State Government, Secretary to the Delta State Government and the Auditor-General of Delta State asking for an injunction restraining the EFCC, its Chief Executive and/or the Attorney-General of the Federation (the defendants) from carrying certain actions being contemplated against the applicants.
In the order, the court, which also fixed October 30, 2007 as the date for the hearing of the “Motion on Notice”, equally restrained the defendants’ agents or privies from acting in any manner against the plaintiffs in regard of the concerned prayers upon which the order was issued.

This should made an interesting 'TV-Series' Lets seat back and see where this drama ends.

Btw: I have copyright to this 'TV-Series: The Rich, The Corrupt and The law'