Posted by By CHRISTIAN ITA, JOE OMOKARO, LUCKY NWANKWERE (Abuja) and FEMI FOLARANMI (Yenegoa) on
The freedom enjoyed by Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, following the bail granted him by a London court Friday may be short-lived as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is reportedly planning to 'invite him for questioning" in the event he surfaces in Nigeria.
The freedom enjoyed by Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, following the bail granted him by a London court Friday may be short-lived as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is reportedly planning to 'invite him for questioning" in the event he surfaces in Nigeria.
The sum of one million British Pounds was allegedly found in the London home of the governor. British detectives swooped on him Thursday at the Heathrow Airport shortly after returning from Germany where he had undergone surgery.
He was subsequently arraigned and granted bail having pleaded not guilty to the charge. Further hearing has been fixed for November 16, 2005.
The bail notwithstanding, the passport of the embattled governor has been impounded by the British authorities, foreclosing the possibility of playing the Dariye card.
After a 'chat" with the British police in London last year over similar allegation of money-laundering, Plateau State governor, Joshua Dariye, is believed to have sneaked out of UK by avoiding the airport only to re-appear dramatically in Nigeria in time to resume office following the lifting of emergency rule in his state.
The hint of EFFC's plan came on the heels of a statement by the Federal Government stating that the embattled governor was on his own.
The EFCC, Sunday Sun authoritatively gathered, has deployed its operatives to airports, sea ports and all the nation's borders to ensure that he is arrested once he sets foot in the country.
Although it is unclear how they intend to do that given that he enjoys constitutional immunity, a reliable source at the EFCC disclosed that 'We are already investigating the finances of his state. Certainly, we will invite him to clarify some aspects."
Sunday Sun further gathered that the EFCC Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was already discussing with the London Metropolitan Police on phone.
Volunteering further, the source revealed that 'One thing is certain, if he escapes to Nigeria like Dariye did, definitely, we will invite him to our office."
Speaking in Abuja, the Special Assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo on public affairs, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, told Sunday Sun that there was no way the Presidency would intervene because it would amount to a contradiction.
"Our position is that we are fighting a focused and unrelenting war against corruption and we have made it clear over and over again that any individual, no matter how highly placed who indulges in acts of corruption will be brought to justice," he stated.
Fani-Kayode said government would allow the British authorities carry out and conclude their investigations on the charge against Alamieseigha and make their findings known before commenting on the matter.
"There is no way the president can intervene in an ongoing investigation in a foreign country. It is important that due process is allowed to be followed in this case. It is at the end of the investigation that they would let us know the result and what they intend to do. It is at that point that the president can take action", he pointed out.
The president's spokesman explained that the nation's security agencies would continue to work in conjunction with their foreign counterparts in order to bring 'those who perpetrate acts of corruption" to book.
Fani-Kayode dismissed as untrue insinuations in some quarters that the Bayelsa governor was set up.
"I completely reject that assertion. It is not a matter of set up, rather it is a matter of evidence and I think we should wait to see what evidence the
British authorities have and to wait to hear the outcome of their investigation after they have finished," he added.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Deputy- Governor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has commenced moves to stave off any likely sanctions on the embattled governor by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the allegations of money laundering.
Jonathan who had been engaged in series of marathon meetings and consultation with key government officials and party chieftains in Yenagoa since the news of the arrest filtered into the state, flew into Abuja Friday to begin another leg of consultations with the party leadership.
Close aides of the Deputy- Governor confirmed that he was in Abuja but could not ascertain whether he was able to meet and brief the PDP hierarchy over the arrest of the governor.
'All we can tell you is that he is in Abuja and he would be coming back to Yenagoa this weekend," one of the aides said.
Also two key officers of the state House of Assembly have traveled to London to confer with Alamieyeseigha.
Investigations by Sunday Sun also revealed that the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Boyelayefa Debekeme and the Majority leader, Hon Steve Ereboh are in London to see the Governor.
The state chapter of PDP has also concluded plans to meet and take a position on the arrest of the governor.
Reacting to the events, Bayelsa State chapter of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), said the governor's arrest was 'unfortunate, sad, a monumental embarrassment to the state and vindication of CNPP's position on corruption."
The CNPP in a statement signed by its Chairman, Miriki Ebikibina, said it views the allegation with great concern and therefore called on 'the EFCC to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter without any political or personal interest and make its findings known to the people of the state."
But the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) condemned the arrest describing it as part of the grand plan to humiliate 'whoever is perceived as not in support of President Obasanjo 2007 self-perpetuation agenda."
Going down memory lane, President of IYC, Emmanuel Jonjon said there has not been any love lust between British authorities and the Ijaw nation, stressing that the detention of the governor 'is a conspiracy between the British authorities and Federal government to stifle the voice of the Ijaws against injustices being done to our people"