Posted by Yusuf Alli,Niyi Adesina, Bisi Olaniyi and Musikilu Mojeed on
Contrary to his claims of a mysterious escape, closed-circuit television cameras at the Heathrow Airport captured how the Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, fled London.
Contrary to his claims of a mysterious escape, closed-circuit television cameras at the Heathrow Airport captured how the Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, fled London.
Sources told our correspondents that the Metropolitan Police had retrieved the footage of the CCTV recording of the last minute movement of Alamieyeseigha out of London.
It was learnt that the Metropolitan Police had begun a probe of the footage of the governor's escape.
As at 9:40pm on Thursday, the Met had not replied the mail sent to it by THE PUNCH on reports of the recovery of the CCTV footage, but reliable source insisted that the footage could alter the lead of detectives.
Earlier reports had indicated that Alamieyeseigha escaped through France.
Sources said the Met was exploring the theory that the governor flew into Nigeria on a British Airways flight that arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Sunday night.
This revelation on Thursday came on the heels of the arrest and interrogation of a Nigerian businessman, Mr. Terry Waya, on Wednesday night, for alleged money laundering.
As at press time, a source said about £630,000 was found in Waya's account.
He was later released.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest of a Nigerian in a response to an email from our correspondents.
A spokesman of the police, Paul Dew, said, 'Officers from Serious Crime Directorate arrested a man, aged 44, on November 23 at his home address for money laundering enquiry.
'He has been bailed to return on a date in June 2006."
It was gathered that the Presidency was informed of the arrest of Waya at about 2am on Thursday but the Federal Government was still studying the situation.
Waya had in October at Bow Street Magistrates Court in London offered to be one of the three sureties of Alamieyeseigha.
Although he made a £500,000 bail bond available, his surety application went awry.
Findings revealed that there was a disagreement between Waya and the embattled governor over the bail process.
In a response to the public outcry against his move to stand as surety for the governor, Waya issued a statement that he could not abandon a friend in need.
A source said the role of the businessman in the bail saga led to a searchlight on his activities in London.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission also on Thursday arrested three lawyers and a contractor as part of its ongoing inquiry on Alamieyeseigha's assets.
The arrest of Waya came on the heels of the expulsion on Thursday of Alamieyeseigha from the Peoples Democratic Party.
Also on Thursday, the EFCC arrested three lawyers and a contractor over Alamieyeseigha's assets.
Those still being held were a former General-Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Dele Adesina; another lawyer, Mr. Tunde Ayeni; a former Chairman of the Ikeja branch of the NBA, Mr. Olalekan Yusuf; and Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar, a contractor.
The details of the interaction of the four people with the EFCC were sketchy last night.
Frantic efforts were still being made to secure their bail as at press time.
The Peoples Democratic Party, however, on Thursday expelled Alamieyeseigha from its fold.
The party, in a statement, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. John Odeh, at the end of its National Working Committee meeting in Abuja, said the governor, had deeply assaulted its integrity and Nigeria.
The party said its National Executive Committee would ratify the expulsion at its next meeting.
The statement said, 'The involvement of Alameiyeseigha in money laundering and possession of large sums of British pounds sterling running into millions of Naira, his subsequent arrest in London on September 15th 2005 and the unfortunate bail jump contravenes the laws of Britain and that of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
'The doctrine of transparency, accountability and corrupt free nation which the PDP has doggedly pursued in the last six years has deeply been injured by this act.
'Therefore, our great Party cannot fold her hands in the face of this assault on its integrity and that of the nation.
'Hence, the NWC has duly recommended to the NEC, the dismissal of the Alameiyeseigha from the Party."
The statement commended the Bayelsa State Chapter of the party for suspending the governor and the State House of Assembly for commencing impeachment proceedings against the governor.
The party added, 'Similarly, members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly are urged to spare no effort in carrying out their constitutional responsibility under Sections 128 (2) (b) and 188 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and other related laws.
'This step is necessary in order to restore integrity to the nation and our Party."
It also asked the Federal Government to take all necessary measures to 'ensure that the Governor faces the full wrath of the law in order to serve as a deterrent to others who may want to engage in such misconduct."
In Bayelsa State, however, the woes of Alamieyeseigha were compounded on Thursday, when hundreds of angry youths took to the streets, calling for his resignation.
The youth, armed with placards, swooped on the streets of Yenagoa, the state capital, chanting anti-Alamieyeseigha songs.
They persistently chorused, 'Alamco must go."
The protesters, clad in red attire and waving red flags, took off from 'Down Yenagoa," at about noon and got to the Government House gate at 12:55 pm, without attempting to enter or molesting anybody.
Fearing a possible confrontation, riot policemen stationed at the gate stood in a battle ready mood but they did not attack the protesters.
Another contingent of riot policemen, in two unmarked pick-up vans, escorted the protesters to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
The leader of the youth and former Deputy President of the Ijaw Youth Council, Mr. Famous Daunemigha, told journalists that they were demanding for accountability and justice.
Daunemigha said, 'Alamieyeseigha should resign honourably. He is an Ijaw son. We are not going to disown him as an Ijaw man, but we are saying he should honourably do as Ijaw people do, by resigning,"
But the state government, in a special announcement on Radio Bayelsa on Thursday, alleged that the protesters were mobilised from Port Harcourt in fifteen buses and paid N10, 000 each.
Alamieyeseigha, had in his broadcast on Wednesday, also alleged that each of the persons who protested on Tuesday, collected N3,000.
Daunemigha denied the allegation of bribery against them, saying that they did not take the action for pecuniary reasons.
The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties in the state in a statement on Thursday described Wednesday's broadcast as diversionary.
In the statement, signed by its Chairman, Mr. Ebikibina Miriki, the group said it was mischievous for the governor to keep sealed lips on the allegations of money laundering.
'The governor owes Bayelsa people an explanation on the alleged financial scam and the circumstances relating to his mysterious return to the state as a fugitive, having jumped bail," the conference added.
The Punch, Friday November 25, 2005