Fresh Evidence Shows That EFCC Chair, Farida Waziri, Knew Of Ibori's Ownership Of Wings Aviation Ltd Before Sending A Secret Letter To His Lawyers.


Fresh evidence has now surfaced to show that Mrs. Farida Waziri, chair of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had concrete evidence that former Governor James Ibori of Delta was the owner of Wings Aviation Limited, a Nigerian airline managed by Noggie Meggison, when she wrote a letter to Ibori’s lawyers in 2008 leaving the impression that the former governor had no stake in the aviation company.

Mrs. Waziri’s secret letter, which was obtained by SaharaReporters, was written to the law firm of Efere Ozako & Associates in Abuja, was dated December 22, 2008.  In it, Mrs. Waziri categorically certified that Ibori and the Delta State government were not implicated in money laundering allegations regarding Wings Aviation and Captain Nogie Meggison, its Managing Director.

“From the record of investigation conducted, there was no established connection between Mr. James Ibori or the Delta State government and Wings Aviation nor was it established that Wings Aviation used to launder funds for or on behalf of Mr. James O. Ibori,” wrote the chair of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency.

However, Saharareporters has documents revealing that Mrs. Waziri knew she was making false claims in her letter to Mr. Ibori’s lawyers. A witness statement prepared and submitted by the London Metropolitan Police in support of an application for a restraint order had detailed Ibori’s financial shenanigans around the globe. The statement, which was signed by Paul Gardner of the Proceeds of Crime Unit at the London Metropolitan Police, disclosed how Mr. Ibori funneled monies to several companies including Wings Aviation.

An EFCC source told SaharaReporters that the documents were handed over to Mrs. Waziri as soon as she took over as EFCC chair. The documents were also available to the Attorney General, Michael Aondoakaa, as part of a package requesting Mutual Legal Assistance to prosecute Ibori’s associates in London. Mr. Aondokaa turned down the request by the UK government and wrote a letter, also in 2008, exonerating Ibori of involvement in any corruption.

Mr. Gardner’s statement also revealed how Mr. Ibori used Mr. Bhadresh Gohil, his recently convicted London lawyer, to carry out his money laundering deals. The statement stated that Gohil registered Telaton Quays Limited in the British Virgin Islands and used it to purchase a Challenger jet from Bombardier Incorporated in Canada. Mr. Gohil's law firm incorporated Telaton Quays, which also owns 42 Great Ground Street, Shaftsbury in Dorset (UK).

Mr. Gohil also incorporated another company, Erin Aviation Limited, in Mauritius. Erin Aviation received an assignment from Telaton Quays Limited to help in the purchase of the Bombardier jet. The contract with Bombardier Incorporated was executed by way of a deed of assignment made on December 14, 2006 between Telaton Quays Limited, Bombardier Inc. and Erin Aviation Limited.

In Switzerland, Mr. Ibori also opened a bank account in the name of a company known as "Stanhope." Funds reportedly belonging to Wings Aviation Limited were transferred from that Swiss-based company to Sharmas solicitors in London.

(See attached documents)