U.S WANTS IBORI ARRESTED

James Ibori

The administration in Washington DC has told Nigeria that it would need concrete prove of the nation’s seriousness and commitment to fight corruption and economic crimes before United States can render useful assistance to track and repatriate monies stolen and laundered by former Governor of Delta State, Mr. James Ibori.

The United State Justice Department is currently investigating the purchase of Willbross Nigeria Limited which was purchased in a cash transaction for $155 Million by Mr. Ibori.

Pointblanknews.com learnt that the American National Security Adviser, Mr. Steven Hadley stated the position of the U.S government at a meeting with the chairman of the Economic and Financial crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu at a meeting held recently in Washington DC.

Hadley was said to have explained the technicality involved before the U.S government could take appropriate action to confiscate money and asset belonging to Mr. Ibori in the United States. Such assets includes: HFA Holding Group, Miami Florida; Primi LLC, Miami, Florida and Bond Technologies, Tampa Florida and others in Panama.

Sources privy to the meeting told pointblanknews.com that the U.S want Ibori to be first arrested and prosecuted by Nigerian authorities on the ground of useful statement already gathered from Ibori and other lieutenants in crime.

The source said: “as soon as the EFCC gets Ibori, the NSA has agreed to direct investigations on him. We are aware of his assets and financial dealings here. The NSA just wants the EFCC to act.”

The source added that the NSA’s position was informed by the refusal of the EFCC to prosecute Andy Uba who while entering the U.S as Emmanuel Nnamdi, used former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s presidential jet to import $170,000 to the U.S.

He said Uba was left without prosecution because “the EFCC refused to charge him for breaking Nigeria’s law,” adding, this time, “if they look the other way, we would not do their job for them.”

Prosecuting Ibori remains a hot potato issue for the Nigerian government. Various interests, sometimes personal, at other times corporate continue to put pressure on the Nigerian government to sweep the matter under the carpet. Governor Olusola Saraki of Kwara State is well known for trying to persuade President Yar’Adua to intervene on the matter to prevent Ibori from being prosecuted. Saraki’s brother-in-law, Segun Fowora manages Ibori’s Real Estate Company in Miami Florida. Fowora is said to be husband to Senator Gbemi- Saraki Fowora, a serving senator.

A Federal High Court in Benin had last week declined jurisdiction on a case brought by the Delta Sate Government seeking to stop the EFCC from investigating records during Ibori’s tenure.

The state said it would appeal the ruling delivered by Justice Gloria Okeke, a relation to one of Ibori’s female companion.

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