Posted by From George Oji in Abuja and Chuks Okocha in Port Harcourt on
The embattled Bayelsa State Governor, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, standing trial in London on charges of money laundering, made a dramatic return to the country yesterday to assume office.
* Alamieyeseigha In Dramatic Escape From London
* Recounts ordeal as EFCC vows to pursue case
The embattled Bayelsa State Governor, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, standing trial in London on charges of money laundering, made a dramatic return to the country yesterday to assume office.
Alamieyeseigha, who is on bail, was said to have arrived his village, Amasoma around 2.am yesterday before he drove into the state capital, Yenagoa, in a long convoy at about 9.25am.
Details of his arrival are like that of his Plateau State counterpart, Governor Joshua Dariye, as they are still kept as top secret, but facts are emerging, from THISDAY investigations, on how he beat the security dragnets around him in the United Kingdom.
Last Friday, according to diplomatic sources, Alamieyeseigha failed to report at the Police Station as dictated by the terms of his bail, thus breaching one of the conditions.
The next day, Saturday, British undercover agents who were detailed on him, were said to have trailed him to a flat behind Hilton hotel in London Park Lane. He was said to have left the flat same day in the company of a young lady to another flat on Peckham street where he spent the night.
The next morning, Sunday, two ladies were seen leaving the Peckham flat by the undercover agents and it was much later when, the governor's whereabouts became unknown, that they got wise to the realisation that Alamieyeseigha was indeed the 'second woman'.
Giving details of how Alamieyeseigha escaped from London, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, yesterday confirmed that he disguised as a woman using forged travel documents and following illegal routes to the country.
Although Ribadu refused to make further disclosures in order not to jeopardize investigations on the matter, Alamieyeseigha was said to have been helped by an Ijaw man who procured for him a fake Nigerian passport with which he travelled out of the United Kingdom.
There were, however, conflicting reports yesterday as to how he arrived the country. Government sources said he arrived by a British Airways flight while another report said he came by a chartered flight.
A top security source, however, confirmed that "the man could not have pulled off such stunt without the support of some people".
An Ijaw man, said to have facilitated the escape, is believed to have already been arrested by the British Metropolitan Police.
There were also reports last night that the plot was hatched by no fewer than four close aides of the governor who were said to have enlisted the services of a private British security firm.
Yesterday in Yenagoa, Alamieyeseigha who spoke in his native Ijaw language addressed the crowd that gathered at the Government House to welcome him.
He lauded the people of the state for their steadfastness during his absence, most especially their support for his Deputy, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who he commended for piloting the affairs of the state in a mature and most effective manner. While thanking the people of the state for their support, the governor reminded them that there was still a lot of work to be done.
Alamieyeseigha reaffirmed his total loyalty to President Olusegun Obas-anjo: 'For 65 days or so I found myself in the wilderness of foreign restrictions and torment. However, God Almighty has used this travail to humble me and I pray Nigerians accept the will of God in my life. Today, I reclaimed and reaffirmed my Nigerianness.
"Today, I am back at my desk, forever committed to serve the people of Bayelsa and Nigeria. I thank the Almighty God for his protection, I thank Bayelsans, the Ijaw Nation and indeed Nigerians for standing by me".
The governor received in audience eminent dignitaries, including Chief Melford Okilo, first civilian Governor of old Rivers State, members of the council of traditional rulers led by HRM King Joshua Igbagara, including King Alfred Diete-Spiff, first Military Governor of old Rivers State, and many others.
Alamieyeseigha said the task before Bayelsans was to join hands with the government to move the state forward. He further urged the people to be focused, united and steadfast in the struggle for resource control and self-determination.
Alamieyeseigha said he would make a state-wide broadcast where the details of his travails, his impressions about the Nigerian - nation and other national issues would be disclosed.
The streets of Yenagoa were agog with jubilations. There were several youths and women in motor bikes and vehicles waving green leaves, celebrating the arrival of the governor.
Apart from that, the youths gathered at the Creek House, the seat of government apparently awaiting Police officials and EFCC agents said to be on their way from Abuja to arrest the governor. The youths vowed to resist any move to arrest the governor.
The arrival of the governor caught many unawares, even the Deputy Governor, Dr. Jonathan Goodluck, was said to be meeting opinion holders canvassing support for his new position as the acting governor.
On hand to welcome the governor was the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Remi Kuku, his cousin, Abel Ebifeomwi, who is popularly known as 'TO'. Others include the impeached Deputy Speaker, Jephatath Foihgha.
The Deputy Governor, Goodluck, later met the governor when he was addressing the people in Ijaw language. The address lasted for over thirty minutes.
But in Abuja, Ribadu described as sad the incident involving the arrest of the governor and his escape back to the country.
Fielding question from reporters who were invited to EFCC's Abuja head office to witness the issuance of $17 million cheque to representatives of the Brazilian banks as part of the $214 recovered by the commission he said: "It's a sad development, it is not something we are proud of. Unfortunately, it is a Nigerian that is involved, and a powerful Nigerian.
"It is a matter that has to do with the justice system in the UK. It is bail conditions that was issued by a UK Court that was violated and the accused person jumped bail, and today he is with us.
"But we knew how he got in, we are following it; the way he dressed as a woman, we know that he forged documents to gain entrance and passed undetected through all the security checks both at the UK side and also the Nigerian side but he is being investigated.
"We will change Nigeria not to be a safe haven for fugitives. Even though we may have handicaps even though we may have hurdles in bringing certain people or group of people to justice in this country, it's temporary, I am sure it's not going to be the same again.
"It's a case we have been investigating and we'll continue to investigate him. We will take all necessary steps and measures, legal measures to ensure that justice is done. It is a task we have taken up for ourselves and we will not in any way be deterred, we will not relent, the resolve is strong.
"We believe that it is a little too early to unfold our plans. The governor just arrived this morning through illegal route. We intend to do what is right, what is legal what is permitted by our own law. If it means whatever it takes to ensure that we go through the due process to ensure that justice is done we'll do it.
"But for your information this is an issue that has to do with the British justice system. If there is any way we can assist and cooperate in that process we shall be glad to do so.
"Let me make it clear, all over the world we have people who jump bail, even in Nigeria, even in EFCC we have people who have been granted bail by the court and they jumped bail. So, it's not just common to the UK judicial system.
"The moment you don't have 100 per cent control of an individual and he is not in custody or in prison, chances are that he'll escape, that is all over the world.
"But the ability for us to get him back to justice is what matters and that is what is important and criminal trial do not expire through time.
"If he is going to be out there for as long as necessary he will remain a fugitive of justice and the time will come possibly when justice will catch up with him.
"What I feel bad about is that somehow Nigeria is viewed as a safe haven for people to come and be protected. This is a place criminal acts are committed and ironically this is the same place they come back for protection, and it's a tragedy. It is a challenge to us, it is a challenge to our justice system," Ribadu said.