The Ibori Case:British Police Embarrassed
FROM TUNDE OYEDOYIN, LONDON
http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/news/article02
THE legal victory of former Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori, was a huge embarrassment to the Metropolitan Police, The Guardian learnt yesterday.
Consequently, the British law enforcement agents and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), may not readily accept request made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to investigate any case of money laundering against any Nigerian public official.
An official in the CPS said the security agents and the CPS were surprised, and indeed embarrassed by the speed with which the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa, "reacted and wrote the letter of support for the (former) governor."
"Really, this baffled both the prosecutors and his defence lawyers," the source said, adding, "it's as if Ibori has the Federal Government of Nigeria on his palm."
It was gathered that having observed that the same government agency (EFCC) that initiated the case had suddenly lost interest and was no more providing the evidence to nail their man, "the CPS lawyers and the Met Police threw in the towel, knowing that Ibori could turn around and claim damages through his legal team."
"The AGF was so quick; he was prompt to write the letter," the source stressed. "There was more to it, and Ibori knows that the government was on his side."
The source said that had the CPS wanted to push the case further without the support of the EFCC that initiated the allegations, "this could result in millions of damages in compensation for the former governor."
It added that the case became "an embarrassment to the British Police and they knew that if Ibori took the case further, he could claim damages and get millions of pounds for it."
Making further revelation, the source said, not only was it a defence strategy to get Ibori to request a letter from the Attorney General; his defence team knows "that if the strategy worked against the former governor of Bayelsa State, then it would work in Ibori's favour."
Moreover, "the British government knows the impact of such a letter from a country like Nigeria; they know it will carry a lot of weight."
"When a case like this is on, the defence tries all possible means to help their client; so, that was why they (defence lawyers) suggested it to Ibori," the source said.
On what the feelings were among the CPS lawyers and the Metropolitan Police, with regard to future cases, the source replied: "They won't take them seriously; they will take their time because this was really embarrassing for them."
"They were no longer getting support from the Nigerian government. So, I can tell you that when such requests come in future, they won't just jump at them."
Another source in New York told The Guardian last night that "all the planning and eventual frustration of the Ibori court case in London were a collaboration between the office of the Attorney General and the former governor.
The source recalled the AGF's attendance of the Nigerian Lawyers Dinner in New York recently, arriving there on Wednesday for an event that was slated for Saturday.
He camped up at the Astoria and Ibori was allegedly seen at the hotel. The AGF returned a week later to New York as part of Yar'Adua's entourage to the UN general assembly.
According to the source, Ibori came to the UN assembly as a delegation of the Nigerian Government and was issued a UN pass for that purpose. He reportedly met with top government officials but never attended any functions at the UN.
Surprisingly, said the source, "the UN Pass later found its way to the Southwark Crown Court in London, as part of the joker presented to get the order of restrain lifted on Ibori's account."
Ibori's lawyers at Speechys are reportedly "very happy" about this and they never denied that the AGF's letter was used, though they refused to discuss details of the case and how much they make of Ibori as legal fees citing Attorney/Client confidentiality.
The source stated that the AGF had planned to testify on behalf of Ibori in person but the revelations of his alleged meetings with Ibori in the US made him jettison the idea.
The case was said to drag on for long till October 1 because the London Police made a strong case about Ibori in the meticulous documentation of their findings over two years, in an investigation code-named "Operation Tureen."
"Even Yar'Adua was said to have been shocked with the Metropolitan Police findings on Ibori, which exclude his Nigerian and the US end of his transactions; they were basically his assets in the UK and Canada," the source said.
It was learnt that the police went to court to get an order that lasted for two months, hoping that the Nigerian government would provide immediate support and backing as they did with Dariye and Alamieyeseigha.
"But they did not get the backing. Instead, what they got in court was the Attorney General's letter to Ibori's lawyers, which letter the defence used to maximum effect," the source added.