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Uk Targets Nigeria's Stolen Loot - Politics - Nairaland

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Uk Targets Nigeria's Stolen Loot by Mamajama(m): 8:06pm On Sep 27, 2007
Britain has returned to Nigeria some of the money seized by London police from the former governor of Plateau State and says more seized money will follow.
Joshua Dariye was arrested in London in 2004 but skipped bail to return home.

The Acting British High Commissioner to Nigeria, James Tansley, handed over two cheques totalling more than $250,000 (£126,000, 29.3m naira).


KUDOS to RIBADU and his personnel. What a job well done. where is Alam now. where did he get the money?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7015765.stm
Re: Uk Targets Nigeria's Stolen Loot by IykeD1(m): 3:07pm On Sep 28, 2007
And meanwhile, the [b]Attorney General for Corruption [/b]is gradually giving away his real
motives. . . Someone is trying to help your country return its stolen wealth, but hey why
hurry when we are all about the "rule of law", after all rule of law is not to be expedited.
Let me guess how the confused minds on Nairaland will interpret: its Ribadu and OBJ's fault!


Loot recovery: AGF, Met Police disagree
By Semiu Okanlawon, Tobi Soniyi and Olalekan Adetayo
Published: Friday, 28 Sep 2007

A fresh crisis of confidence on Thursday erupted between the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa and the Metropolitan Police over attempt to investigate money laundering cases against some former public officers.

The Met Police had last week sent two detectives from London to the AGF but the British police claimed that its officers were rebuffed.

Investigations by our correspondents indicated that the detectives were in Abuja for some outstanding financial crime cases.

A source gave the names of the detectives as Trevor Shepherd and Garry Waltern from the Economic and Specialist Crime Directorate of the Metropolitan Police.

The source, however, claimed that the discussion between the AGF and the detectives was incomplete.

“The visit may be in respect of some former governors who are wanted in Britain for money laundering. They did not give details.”

But the Met Police said the AGF refused to meet with its team.

In an e-mail response to an enquiry by our correspondent, the Met Police said, “Two MPS officers from the Economic and Specialist Crime Directorate recently attended Abuja in Nigeria to discuss several continuing investigations. The officers returned to the United Kingdom after two days.

“They did not meet with the Attorney-General during the visit.

“We are not prepared to discuss these matters further in any regard.”

When contacted at about 8.10pm on Thursday, Aondoakaa said, “I met with the detectives who were accompanied by an Under-Secretary at the British High Commission and a woman from the Department for International Development.

“You can come to my office, I have their complimentary cards with me. They can never say such a thing that I shunned them. If they say so, I will take it up with them.

“They brought some documents to me but they were not signed. They said they were expecting clean copies and some annexures.

Meanwhile, the British Government on Thursday said that Nigeria still had substantial stolen funds in the United Kingdom.

The British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria Mr. James Tansley , who disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday, reaffirmed Britain’s support for Nigeria’s anti-graft campaign.

Tansley spoke while handling over a cheque of N29.3m being part of money seized by the Metropolitan Police, London from the former Governor of Plateau State, Chief Joshua Dariye.

He said, “We stand ready to cooperate with Nigeria in the fight against corruption.”

The envoy added that UK had worked closely with the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice as well as other agencies in tracing Nigeria’s stolen wealth.
Re: Uk Targets Nigeria's Stolen Loot by Mamajama(m): 3:30pm On Sep 28, 2007
Well we must protect our citizen at all cost, but if this detective have evidence of fowl play. Then they should be allowed to work with the Nigerian police force to nail all this criminals.

Just like Nigerian detective can't go outside of their jurisdiction to investigate crimes. the metro police should not violate our laws as well.

AGF should have handled the matter in a more diplomatic and comformative way. DRAMA Again
Re: Uk Targets Nigeria's Stolen Loot by Nobody: 4:58pm On Sep 28, 2007
The Met are after Ibori and his loot. Lets see how this plays out.

Meanwhile, Chimaroke Nnamani is fair game because he was not part of the Yar'adua project. The FG has taken over his fraudulently acquired assets.  cool
Re: Uk Targets Nigeria's Stolen Loot by Nobody: 10:29am On Oct 01, 2007
Britain seeks more time for evidence against Ibori
From Tunde Oyedoyin, London

ALMOST two months after a Southwark Crown Court Judge placed a restraining order on about N3.4 billion ($35 million) worth of global assets belonging to the former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, the Crown Prosecution Service, (CPS) will this morning pray the South East-based court to give it more time to gather evidence against the former Delta State chief executive.

"They're still gathering evidence and have not yet decided whether to press for charges," a spokeswoman for the CPS disclosed to The Guardian last week.

Having secured the restraining order at the same court on Thursday, August 2, both the CPS and the Metropolitan Police had hoped that they would have had more evidence to nail the former governor and to also proof that the assets he has been restrained from touching were not acquired from his rightful earnings, but feelers from the CPS indicate that Ibori's fate may still be in the balance and the restraining order may be extended.

The Guardian reliably gathered from the CPS that the Crown's lawyers have also sought the assistance of Commercial Crime Bureau (CCB)-the organisational arm of the International Chamber of Commerce, which, among others, checks out the parties to potentially dubious transactions-in order to gather its body of evidence in a bid to charge Ibori.

Although, the CPS has the backing of the law, having successfully secured the Application of Restraint, using the Proceeds of Crime Act to argue its case on August 2, the pendulum can swing in either the direction of the prosecution or the defendant when the case-known as preliminary hearing because Ibori is yet to be formally charged - comes up for review at 10 .a.m this morning.

During earlier investigations by The Guardian, sources at the Crown Court had disclosed that the restraining order of August 2 "was a preliminary application hearing, it's not even a Crown Court case," and moreover, the order was secured to allow them-CPS-to continue with their investigations."

Just as the CPS lawyers would be wanting an extension of the order, a prominent Nigerian barrister based in North London had also told The Guardian that, not only was a restraining order "temporary," Ibori might even get the order removed if his lawyers argue his case successfully. According to him, the former Delta State governor "can even make an application to discharge the order. If he asks that the order be discharged and he wins the argument, they'll become his property again."

Ibori, meanwhile, is not expected to be in court for today's review. Apart from not wanting to risk any sort of embarrassing situation that may warrant an arrest, the hearing will be a restricted one and it is meant to be a tussle between his lawyers and those of the CPS. " It is what's called an in chamber's hearing "just legal teams," Annabelle Macmillan, the press officer of the CPS revealed to The Guardian over the weekend. She disclosed further, "Mr. Ibori has not been charged with any offence yet. We have a file of evidence and we are still making a decision on charges."


http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/news/article05
Re: Uk Targets Nigeria's Stolen Loot by Iman3(m): 12:53pm On Oct 01, 2007
This will teach them to move their assets to places like China and the Middle East.None of Abacha's loot in the Middle East has ever been questioned
Re: Uk Targets Nigeria's Stolen Loot by Nobody: 5:06am On Oct 02, 2007
The Crown Court in Southwark, London on Monday discharged the freeze order the British authorities obtained against former Delta State Governor, James Ibori.

Judge Goymer ruled that "on the material before me today (which was available to the Crown on August 2, 2007), there is less cause for me to believe that Ibori has benefited from criminal conduct in Nigeria."

The judgment absolves him of culpability over allegation of corruption levelled against him by the British Government.

Though counsel for the Crown, Jonathan Hall, had conceded at the hearing on August 2, 2007 that there was "something of a dearth of evidence against James Ibori," the court still went ahead to grant the restraint order preventing Ibori, Erin Aviation, and others from dealing with their property.

Goymer had made it clear that on the adjourned date for hearing on October 1, 2007 he would "need to be satisfied that the Crown had made progress" and "that there was a real prospect of prosecuting the respondent."

He emphasised that "the Crown needed to reach a decision fairly quickly as to whether or not to charge Ibori."

A restraint order is allowed at the investigative and pre-charge stage under the British legal system.

On Monday, the Judge deemed "two months sufficient opportunity for the Crown to interview Ibori and to reach a decision as to whether or not to charge him."

Hall had relied on what the Crown described as Ibori's false declarations, as evidence of corruption; but the Judge ruled that "false declarations alone do not give rise to corruption."

The defreeze order came with costs against the Crown, in favour of Ibori and the other parties. They include the costs of both the hearings on August 2 and October 1, 2007, and all intervening legal work.

Ibori was represented by Ian Timlin (Partner) and Julie Thrower (Solicitor) of dispute resolution solicitors, Speechly Bircham, who instructed criminal barristers, Andrew Mitchell and Ivan Pearce, of Furnival Chambers.

Erin Aviation was represented by Monica Oberoi (Partner) of Arlington Sharmas Solicitors, specialists in African business and commercial affairs, and who instructed Linda Saunt, a barrister, also of Furnival Chambers.

In response to Hall’s submission that an investigation of this nature takes time, the Judge said: "I have allowed the Crown two months to put new material before the Court to support the allegations against Ibori."

The Southwark Crown Court had delivered an order restraining Ibori from the assets on August 2, but his media aide, Sheddy Ozoene, insisted that his boss would be exonerated on the conclusion of investigation.

News of Ibori’s court victory elicited jubilation from people in Asaba.

The Delta State Government itself said there would be a thanksgiving service today to appreciate God for it.

Most people described the ruling not just as a victory for Ibori but one for all Deltans, in and outside the state, because their reputation as hardworking, enterprising, and credible people has been restored.

A statement issued by Information Commissioner, Oma Djebah, said Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan is elated.

"It is in demonstration of … Uduaghan’s gratitude to God for the victory which has further brought greater dignity, joy, happiness, and integrity to the state that (he) has directed that a thanksgiving service be held to thank God and celebrate with all Deltans for their show of love, overwhelming support and continued solidarity," Djebah explained.

http://www.independentngonline.com/?c=117&a=2745
Re: Uk Targets Nigeria's Stolen Loot by Nobody: 5:14am On Oct 02, 2007
Looks like the Attorney General for Corruption finally succeeded in throwing the Met off Ibori's tail.

@ Iyke-D

how do you read this? the EFCC is dead. At least Yar'Adua is a gentleman, that's more than can ever be said for your hero Obasanjo. cool
Re: Uk Targets Nigeria's Stolen Loot by saintchux(m): 7:55am On Oct 02, 2007
Iyke-D & Mamajama. Please can u react to UK court ruling on Ibori, I know if it is in Nigeria, the judge is corrupt and not supporting RIBADU's anti corruption
Re: Uk Targets Nigeria's Stolen Loot by McKren(m): 4:14pm On Oct 02, 2007
saintchux:

Iyke-D & Mamajama. Please can u react to UK court ruling on Ibori, I know if it is in Nigeria, the judge is corrupt and not supporting RIBADU's anti corruption

It is still the same thing Iyke-D is saying. London Met police approached the AGF to gather first class evidence, but our AGF refused to grant them audience but rather wrote a letter to Ibori's counsel that Ibori is not being investigated in Nigeria (A blatant lie !!!!!). The London Judge has no choice but to throw out the case for lack of strong supporting evidence.

Who is fooling who?
Re: Uk Targets Nigeria's Stolen Loot by BigB11(m): 4:19pm On Oct 02, 2007
Ribadu is responsible for this mess.
Re: Uk Targets Nigeria's Stolen Loot by Mamajama(m): 5:43pm On Oct 02, 2007
BIGB1 can you expatiate on how Ribadu is responsible? and do not forget this is only in UK. IBORI still has a case to answer in Nigeria
Re: Uk Targets Nigeria's Stolen Loot by Mariory(m): 6:06pm On Oct 02, 2007
Big B1:

Ribadu is responsible for this mess.

IBB will be proud of that comment. Well done.
Re: Uk Targets Nigeria's Stolen Loot by IykeD1(m): 12:14am On Oct 05, 2007

Looks like the Attorney General for Corruption finally succeeded in throwing the Met off Ibori's tail.

@ Iyke-D

how do you read this? the EFCC is dead. At least Yar'Adua is a gentleman, that's more than can ever be said for your hero Obasanjo. Cool
The EFCC is not yet dead but will be if Yar Adua wants it to. If Yar Adua kills the EFCC as some
people are praying, who becomes the real losers? To be clear on one minor thing: it won't be
me. I am a nobody and can slip in and out of the country as long as I can afford to purchase my
ticket. If "they" succeed in killing the EFCC, please remember not to curse Ribadu when you are cruising down the pot-hole filled highways in your brand new Bentleys.

What is the moral of the story? Shouldn't we be ashamed that a foreign country seems more
interested in prosecuting our thieving governors than our own government?

As for Obasanjo being my hero, I will take him any day over any other past Nigerian leader. At
the rate we are going now, soon most of you will be calling for the re-instatement of Ribadu and
the original EFCC in a few years. We will soon see if Yar Adua's words will be sufficient to fight corruption.

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