Documents available paint a picture of how former Governor James Ibori of Delta State used international collaborators, offshore shell companies and local assistants to buy a Bombardier Challenger jet from Bombardier Aerospace Incorporated, Canada’s leading private jet manufacturing company.

A series of documents compiled by investigators recently shows how Ibori’s large scale money laundering activities detailed shocking maneuvers by the ex-governor in the purchase of the Bombardier jet. Going beyond the narrative of high wire corruption and money laundering schemes, the documents tell a story of a world of offshore havens to which Nigerian local resources were diverted by Ibori—and other political office holders.

“This explains why the Nigerian nation is stripped of resources that should be invested in providing basic social needs for the populace,” said a New York-based Nigerian political scientist who was briefed on some of the details in the Ibori dossier.

For a period of eight years starting from May 29 1999 to May 2007, the 48-year old James Ibori was governor of Delta State. During this period—and in particular between 2005 and 2006—Ibori illegally transferred close to £20 million pounds out of Delta State to the United Kingdom. The transfers were laundered through cronies, relatives and shell companies.

The documents list Haleway Properties Limited, registered in Gibraltar, as one of Ibori’s front companies. But another company known as Teleton Quays Limited, registered in the British Virgin Islands, was used to purchase the Challenger jet from Bombardier Incorporated. Telaton Quays, which also owns 42 Great Ground Street, Shaftsbury in Dorset (UK) was incorporated by Mr. Gohil of Arlington Sharmas solicitors in London.

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 Bombadier 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.

Reports have it that funds for the purchase of the $20 million Bombardier Challenger 604 jet were paid to the jet’s manufacturer through different shell companies around the globe. First, the sum of $4.7 million was transferred to Bombardier from a Mauritius-based Parabola International Corp through the solicitors’ firm of Arlington Sharmas in London. The money from Parabola originated from an account opened and maintained by James Ibori in Switzerland in the name of a company known as “Stanhope.” Further funds were transferred to Sharmas solicitors in London from a Lagos-based aviation company, Wings Aviation Limited.

This is the last straw for Ibori, EFCC pls investigate this man.

Source
http://www.saharareporters.com/