Saharareporters, New York
There is no let up in the heat on former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, as the Metropolitan Police in London earlier today (Wednesday, September 19, 2007) arrested and interrogated his mistress as well as his sister in connection with the multi-million pound money laundering case against Ibori.
Udo Amaka Onuigbo Okoronkwo, Ibori’s longtime mistress, his sister, Christine Ibie Ibori, are being questioned about their role in Ibori’s reported laundering of public funds estimated at well over 20 million pounds sterling.
The Metropolitan Police are investigating the two suspects’ extensive involvement in Ibori’s illegal diversion of Delta State funds. Ibori’s worldwide assets were recently ordered frozen by the SouthwarkCrown Court in London—pending further hearings.
Saharareporters can also report that the Metropolitan Police are also on the verge of arresting another major suspect, Adebimpe Pogoson, a former special assistant to James Ibori who is known to be instrumental in the former governor’s money laundering activities in Europe and North America. Saharareporters sources in London said the Metropolitan Police are likely to arrest Ms. Pogoson by tomorrow.
Adebimpe is also named as a facilitator in Ibori’s purchase of a sprawling real estate in Florida. One of our sources said the former governor is currently living in that Florida estate having traveled to the U.S. supposedly on a South African passport.
The Southwark Crown Court has fixed Monday, October 1, 2007 for renewed consideration of its order freezing Ibori’s assets, including a brand new Bombardier jet.
A source close to Ibori said the former governor has been boasting that he has lined up high priced lawyers to pursue a reversal of the freeze order.
Ibori in his latest legal pursuit to reverse theu003cbr />order. One source said Aondoakaa—whose ministerialu003cbr />appointment was sponsored by Ibori and a coalition ofu003cbr />ex-governors facing investigation for corruption andu003cbr />money laundering—had been asked by Ibori to sign anu003cbr />affidavit stating that Nigeria does not consider Iboriu003cbr />a suspect in money laundering activities. “I knowu003cbr />Aondoakaa wants to send in such an affidavit,”u003cbr />disclosed our source inside Abuja. “The question isu003cbr />whether he and Yar’adua can survive the scandal of itu003cbr />since Deltans as well as other Nigerians widely regardu003cbr />Ibori as one of the biggest looters in the last eightu003cbr />years.”u003cbr />u003c/div>",1] ); //--> Saharareporters was yet to confirm the existence of an affidavit purportedly signed by the Nigeria's Attorney General, Mike Aondoakaa, which is intended to help Ibori in his latest legal pursuit to reverse the order. One source said Aondoakaa—whose ministerial appointment was sponsored by Ibori and a coalition of ex-governors facing investigation for corruption and money laundering—had been asked by Ibori to sign an affidavit stating that Nigeria does not consider Ibori a suspect in money laundering activities. “I know Aondoakaa wants to send in such an affidavit,” disclosed our source inside Abuja. “The question is whether he and Yar’adua can survive the scandal of it since Deltans as well as other Nigerians widely regard Ibori as one of the biggest looters in the last eight
years.”
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