Posted by Femi Makinde, Dan Ighodalo, Bisi Olaniyi, Musikilu Mojeed on
A London magistrate court on Tuesday ordered the Metropolitan Police to release the international passport of Bayelsa State governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
A London magistrate court on Tuesday ordered the Metropolitan Police to release the international passport of Bayelsa State governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
This followed an application brought before the Red Bridge Magistrate Court in London by Alamieyeseigha's counsel, Prof. Fidelis Oditah.
However, the reprieve was short-lived as the governor was re-arrested immediately by the British anti-fraud police.
Oditah, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had gone to the court to argue that the bail condition imposed on the governor by the police be varied because they (police) had no power to do so.
The court consequently upheld the argument, ordering that Alamieyeseigha's passport be released.
Oditah, in a statement made available to The PUNCH, said, 'The Metropolitan Police were clearly rattled and supprised.
'As the governor was leaving the court premises, he was re-arrested.
'We believe that the re-arrest is not without its difficulties and await the next move by the Police.
'The governor has not been charged with any offence."
A source close to the Bayelsa State Government said Alamieyeseigha was not re-arrested at the court premises but on his way to see one of his friends within London.
On Tuesday, the Acting Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Preye Wariowei, accused Nigeria's High Commissioner to Britain, Dr. Christopher Kolade, of failing to heed President Olusegun Obasanjo's directive that his boss be provided with full consular services.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party has formally received the report of the arrest of the Governor.
The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who met with the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, and other National Working Committee members for close to an hour, also submitted a written report on the arrest of the governor.
Jonathan, declined to speak on his mission to the PDP secretariat, but he was reported to have pleaded with the party to first 'hear from Alamieyeseigha before taking a position on the matter."
He was also said to have assured the NWC that the PDP was intact in the state in spite of the absence of the governor.
Alamieyeseigha was arrested on September 15 over alleged money laundering.
THE PUNCH, Wednesday September 28, 2005