Saharareporters can confirm that operatives of the EFCC arrested James Ibori, former governor of Delta State, today in Abuja.
Mr. Ibori was picked up at 9 a.m. today (December 12th 2007) at the Kwara State Governor's Lodge in Abuja where he was hiding out under the protection of Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara.
EFCC operators trailing the former governor said he attempted to slip out of Abuja after checking out of Protea Hotel, but they successfully trailed him to the Kwara State Governor's Lodge where they blocked his escape and subsequently arrested him.
Ibori was scheduled to chair a huge welcome party for Terry Waya, a controversial London-based businessman who was billed to arrive Abuja from London today.
Ibori’s arrest coincided with Umar Yar'adua's departure from Nigeria to make a state visit to the U.S.
Ibori had recently returned from Ghana where he was hiding out under false names. However, he made a quick departure from the African Regent Hotel in Accra after Saharareporters reported that British police were surreptitiously monitoring his movements.
A source close to the former governor said Ibori feared that Interpol might arrest him and hand him over to British authorities who are prosecuting him on charges that he engaged in extensive money laundering activities.
Officers of the EFCC are currently interrogating Ibori at their Abuja office. He may be charged to court as early as tomorrow.
In London, British investigators at the Metropolitan Police anti-fraud unit said they were excited that James Ibori has been arrested by the EFCC. A source at the Mets told Saharareporters that Ibori's arrest and possible prosecution will take the wind off the legal antics of Attorney General Michael Aondokaa's aimed at helping the former governor to elude prosecution in Britain.
“It is definitely a legal confirmation that James Ibori committed criminal acts of money laundering in Nigeria,” said the source. He added: “Once that is established in Nigerian courts, we won't have any difficulties proving our case in the U.K.”
The source further stated that James Ibori, along with money laundering associates Christine Ibie-Ibori, Bimpe Pogoson and Udo Amaka Okoronkwo, may be charged in London on December 19, 2007 for money laundering. One scenario is that the U.K. authorities could request Ibori’s extradition from Nigeria or sentence him in absentia if he is found guilty of the charges leveled against him and his female accomplices.
Meanwhile, human rights attorney Bamidele Aturu has lauded the arrest of Ibori. In a press release sent to Saharareporters earlier today, Aturu said “There is no positive order from any court preventing [Ibori's] arrest.”
Mr. Aturu further said that it would have amounted to gross dereliction of duty on the part of the EFCC not to perform its statutory duties to investigate Ibori’s alleged crimes. He said: “The point is that nobody has found Mr Ibori guilty as that function exclusively belongs to the court. However it is not part of our law to prevent statutory bodies from carrying out their legitimate duties. Mr Ibori should be willing to subject himself to trial. No one should be a sacred cow. The EFCC should now spread its dragnet to other ex-governors and public officials against whom it may have incriminating evidence.”
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