₦airaland Forum

Why Ibori may escape extradition

Written by Olanrewaju Adewole, Abuja
Sunday, 30 May 2010

Despite the extradition treaty between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United Kingdom, emerging scenario from Dubai revealed that wanted former Delta State governor, James Ibori, might escape extradition to the UK and, by extension, Nigeria.

Ibori, who is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Nigeria for an alleged N44 billion fraud and money laundering in the UK was arrested in Dubai penultimate week after he escaped arrest in Nigeria. He was arraigned in a Dubai court and put under house arrest.

Officers of the Met Police and operatives of the EFCC had stormed Dubai immediately after the arrest, armed with the necessary documents to facilitate his extradition, first to the UK for trial, before being moved to Nigeria for another round of trial.

However, almost two weeks after the two teams berthed in Dubai, Sunday Tribune checks revealed that it had not been possible for the combined team to file any paper in court to commence the extradition process, despite all efforts to get it done.

Sources close to the team revealed that the uncooperative attitude of the UAE authorities had complicated the entire process, adding that “to obtain information over there is very difficult. Imagine that even till now, no papers had been filed, due to their (UAE) complicated legal system.”

The sources said that the failure to kick-start the legal process that would culminate in the extradition was not because the team from UK and Nigeria was not trying hard, but due to the alleged uncooperative attitude of the authorities in Dubai, who were suspected of protecting the business interest of the former governor.

It was gathered that Ibori might have decided to escape to Dubai in the first place because of the city’s laws that reportedly protect those with considerable amount of investment there, a situation said to have been in favour of the former governor, who is believed to have heavy investment in the city through proxies.

It was also gathered that a high-powered emissary had been visiting the Presidential Villa in Abuja trying to beg President Goodluck Jonathan on behalf of the former governor.

It could not be ascertained, as at press time, if the visits had yielded any fruit.

A five-man team of EFCC first left Nigeria to Dubai in the wake of his arrest, with another two operatives joining the team later.

It was also gathered that documents detailing the facts of the case against Ibori in Nigeria were in possession of the team, who had been collaborating with Met Police and joining forces to prove in the Dubai court that Ibori was not only wanted in UK for money laundering but also in Nigeria for alleged mind-boggling corruption while in office between 1999 and 2007.


http://www.tribune.com.ng/sun/index.php/news/1178-why-ibori-may-escape-extradition

Hardtalk:
He really have to face the reality of his actions.

How, when and where?

Oboma1:
No two way about it, he will get the stay order from Dubai. Those helping him out are doing a nice job to get the asylum for him.

I hear Atiku and some big shots, are the brain behind. That the government has given him full assurance of staying. So, extradition is a mirage!

Our-turn:
How I wished many of those posting same here, will read the above.

In fact, I will post this link in those threads of like topic.

Does it stop people from doing what they still want to do?

Hardtalk:
Contact poster at swtfunmmy02@yahoo.com. Only serious minded people please.

How genuine can some of these ladies be? Are they really serious or to have fun?

Why are all the guys suddenly looking for babes, to spend the rest of their lives with?