Mr. Femi Babafemi



Apr 14 2010

EFCC declares Ibori wanted • Court orders his arrest

Written by Lanre Adewole:

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, declared former governor of Delta State, Chief  James Onanefe Ibori, wanted in connection with alleged corruption and money laundering while in office. Ibori, who ruled the state between 1999 and 2007, has been having brushes with the commision even before he left office on May 29, 2007.

Elders and stakeholders in the state, led by  Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, have accused him of  stealing public funds running into billions of naira.

They have continually petitioned the commission, supplying documentary evidence at different points to prove their case that Ibori looted the state treasury.

He was arraigned by the commission last year, but a high court in Asaba quashed the charge against him.  The commission has appealed against the  judgment.

Ibori is also being tried  in the United Kingdom alongside his alleged mistress, Uzoamaka Okonkwo and sister, Ibie Ibori.

The trial court in the United Kingdom had ordered that his assets be frozen.

The former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr  Michael Aondoaaka SAN, was  accused, on several occasions, of  making moves to frustrate Ibori’s trial both home and abroad.

Commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Femi Babafemi, in a statement issued in Abuja, on Tuesday, noted that the former governor was wanted by the anti-graft agency over an ongoing investigation into some allegations of official corruption and money laundering.

The statement read “Following persistent public enquiries over the status of the case involving the former governor, we will like the public to know that Chief James Ibori is wanted by the commission for interrogation.

“In this regard, letters of invitation have been sent to his known addresses in Lagos and Abuja while a court warrant has equally been obtained for his arrest.”

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Feb 23 2010

EFCC arrests PDP BOT scribe •Over alleged N15bn fraud

By Lanre Adewole:

IMMEDIATE past governor of Nasarawa State, Mallam Adamu Abdullahi, was, on Monday morning, arrested and detained in Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N15 billion fraud while in office. Commission’s spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrest. When the Nigerian Tribune spoke with him at about 3.45 p.m., he disclosed that the former governor was undergoing interrogation.

According to him, “I know he (Adamu Abdullahi) is currently being interrogated by our team of operatives.”

Adamu, who is the Secretary, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was said to have been on the radar of the commission for sometime while investigation into his alleged wrongdoings was being concluded.

Operatives of the commission were reportedly monitoring his movement and moved in for his arrest on Monday morning at his residence in Abuja.

A commission source said that he was picked up around 10a.m. without much drama.

It was also gathered that it was certain that he would spend the night in the commission’s custody, given that the allegations against him were many and would be required to respond to them one after the other.

According to the source, “it is certain that he would spend the night here (EFCC’s custody).”

He, however, might be granted administrative bail, if the preparation of the criminal charge against him was delayed. The source added that the former governor would certainly face trial over the alleged fraud.

All the evidence required to prosecute the former governor, according to the source, had been gathered, with his statement to the commission meant to serve as his defence to the allegations.

Adamu, who is also the national president of the Nigerian Farmers Association, is accused of awarding phony contracts running into over N15 billion while in office.

He was a two-term governor of the state from 1999 to 2007.

The alleged unexecuted contracts were said to have been for the construction of roads, markets, schools and hospitals.

While some of the projects were said to have been abandoned at foundation stage, many of them were said not to have taken off at all, with all the contract sums allegedly paid upfront.

His friends and cronies were alleged to have been the beneficiaries of the said phony projects.

As of press time, he was said not to have gone far with his response to the numerous allegations against him.

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