Posted by From Agaju Madugba in Kaduna and John Iwori in Yenagoa on
The Federal Government yesterday filed a fresh 17-count charge against former Bayelsa State governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal sitting in Kaduna.
Jonathan retains Bayelsa cabinet
The Federal Government yesterday filed a fresh 17-count charge against former Bayelsa State governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal sitting in Kaduna.
The new charges, which reduced by two counts the earlier one filed at the tribunal November 28, may have signified the intention of the government to exhaust the criminal proceedings against the ousted governor in the country before extraditing him to London to conclude his trial for alleged money laundering.
The fresh charges were read yesterday just as Bayelsa State's new Governor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, assured commissioners appointed by his pedecessor that their portfolios were secured, urging them to continue to perform their duties diligently.
The governor who, however, accepted the resignation, with effect from December 31, of the Commissioner for Information, Culture, Tourism and Strategy, Mr. Oronto Douglas, told the commissioners that the highest standards of performance were expected from them.
He informed them that the November allocation of the state from the Federation Account had been released by the Federal Government.
But in Kaduna, the fresh charges against Bayelsa's former governor was justified by by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Thompson Olatigbe, who told the tribunal that his impeachment made the review of the earlier charges necessary since Alamieye-seigha no longer enjoyed immunity from prosecution.
Although the former governor's lawyers objected to the fresh charge, chairman of the tribunal, Justice Bashir Sambo accepted the new charges and issued a production warrant, ordering the Inspector-General of Police to bring the former governor to court December 21, 2005, to respond to the charges against him.
At the last sitting of the tribunal December 7, the defense counsel, Mr. Moses Ofeoshi, had objected to the trial, arguing that the tribunal lacked the competence and the jurisdiction to entertain the case as it would breach sections 308 of the Constitution that immune certain category of political officer holders, including governors from criminal prosecution.
But the learned chairman overruled the defence and said that the former governor must appear before the tribunal to defend the allegations against him.
The fresh counts, which are essentially the same with the earlier ones, accused Alamieyesei-gha of false declaration of assets, operating foreign bank accounts and abuse of office.
The new counts that were filed yesterday read:
• That you Chief Dlepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha while being the Governor of Bayelsa State between 29th May 1999 and 9th December 2005 maintained and operated a foreign personal bank account number 10659347 with Barclays Bank Plc, United Kingdom with a balance of GBP203,753.34 as at 15th February 2005 contrary to section 7 and punishable under section 23 of the code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. Cap. 56 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (ie LFN) 1990 as incorporated under Paragraph 11, Part 1, fifth schedule of the 1999 Consultation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• That you Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeselgha while being the Governor of Bayelsa State between 29th May 1999 and 9th December 2005 maintained and operated a foreign personal bank account number 3239940 with UBS Warburg AG, 1 Curzon Street, London, W1J 5HB with a balance of $2.5 million as at September 2005 contrary to section 7 and punishable under section 23 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act., Cap. 56 LFN 1990 as Incorporated under paragraph 11, Part 1, fifth schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• That you Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha while being the Governor of Bayelsa State between 29th May 1999 and 9th December 2005 maintained and operated a foreign personal bank account number 338931 in the name of FALCON INC. with UBS Warburg AG, 1 Curzon Street, London, W1J 5HB. Contrary to section 17 and punishable under section 23 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. Cap. 56 LFN 1990 as incorporated under paragraph 11, part 1, fifth schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• That you Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha while being the Governor of Bayelsa State between 29th May 1999 and 9th December 2005 maintained and operated a foreign bank account number 7341553/7341596 FOR us dollars with Barclays Bank Plc at International Banking Unit, 88 Dighemis Akritas Avenue 1644, Nicosla, Cyprus. Contrary to section 7 and punishable under section 23 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. Cap. 56 LFN 1990 as incorporated under paragraph 11, part 1, fifth schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• That you Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha while being the Governor of Bayelsa State between 29th May 1999 and 9th December 2005 maintained and operated a foreign personal bank account number 7341588 for GB pounds Sterling with Barclays Bank Plc at International Banking Unit, 88 Dighemis Akrltas Avenue 1644, Nicosia, Cyprus Contrary to section 7 and punishable under section 23 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. Cap. 56 LFN 1990 as incorporated under paragraph 11, part 1, fifth schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• That you Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha while being the Governor of Bayelsa State between 29th May 1999 and 9th December 2005 maintained and operated a foreign personal bank account number 5005220454-7 in Denmark with JYSKE Bank at Bseterbrogate, 9, DK-1780, Copeenhagen V with a balance of at $2.5 million contrary to section 7 punishable under section 23 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. Cap. 56 LFN 1990 as incorporated under paragraph 11, part 1, fifth schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• That you Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha while being the Governor of Bayelsa State between 29th May 1999 and 9th December 2005 maintained and operated a foreign personal bank account number 005482562491 with Bank of America United States of America in the name of Peter Aklamleyeseigh with a balance of $160,000.00 contrary to section 7 and punishable under section 23 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. Cap. 56 LFN 1990 as incorporated under paragraph 11, part 1, fifth schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• That you Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha while being the Governor of Bayelsa State between 29th May 1999 and 9th December 2005 made a false declaration by not declaring the property known as Water Gardens, London W2 2DG which you bought at GBP1.75 million in the name of your company known as Solomon & Peters Ltd and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15 (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. Cap. 56 LFN 1990 as incorporated under paragraph 11, part 1, fifth schedule of the 1999 Constitution and punishable under section 23 of the Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• That you Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha while being the Governor of Bayelsa State between 29th May 1999 and 9th December 2005 made a false declaration by not declaring the property at 14 Mapesbury Road, London, NW2 4JB which you bough at GBP1.4 million and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. Cap. 56 LFN 1990 as incorporated under paragraph 11, part 1, fifth schedule of the 1999 Constitution and punishable under section 23 of the Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• That you Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha while being the Governor of Bayelsa State between 29th May 1999 and 9th December 2005 made a false declaration by not declaring the property at 14 Jubilee Heights, School Uphill, London, NW2 2UQ, which you bought at GBP241,000 and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. Cap. 56 LFN 1990 as incorporated under paragraph 11, part 1, fifth schedule of the 1999 Constitution and punishable under section 23 of the Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
That you Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha while being the Governor of Bayelsa State between 29th May 1999 and 9th December 2005 made a false declaration by not declaring the property at No. 68-70, Regent's Road, London, N3 bought at 3 million Pounds Sterling and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. Cap. 56 LFN 1990 as incorporated under paragraph 11, part 1, fifth schedule of the 1999 Constitution and punishable under section 23 of the Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
That you Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha while being the Governor of Bayelsa State between 29th May 1999 and 9th December 2005 acquired the property known as Chelsea Hotel Abuja worth of N2 Billion for which N1.5 Billion has been paid which is not fairly attributable to your Income and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(3) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. Cap. 56 LFN 1990 as incorporated under paragraph 11, part 1, fifth schedule of the 1999 Constitution and punishable under section 23 of the Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
That you Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha while being the Governor of Bayelsa State between 29th May 1999 and 9th December 2005 acquired two block of luxury flats at Plot 26 Bashir Dalhatu Close, Abacha Estate, Ikoyi worth of N450 million which is not fairly attributable to your income and thereby committed contrary to section 15(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. Cap. 56 LFN 1990 as incorporated under paragraph 11, part 1, fifth schedule of the 1999 Constitution and punishable under section 23 of the Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• That you Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha while being the Governor of Bayelsa State between 29th May 1999 and 9th December 2005 acquired a property at John Kadiya Street, off Jose Marti Crescent, Asokoro, Abuja worth N350 million which is not fairly attributable to your income and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. Cap. 56 LFN 1990 as incorporated under paragraph 11, part 1, fifth schedule of the 1999 Constitution and punishable under section 23 of the Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• That you Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha while being the Governor of Bayelsa State between 29th May 1999 and 9th December 2005 acquired an Estate of six luxury duplexes at No. 1 Community, Road, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos worth N200 million which is not fairly attributable to your income and thereby committed contrary to section 15(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. Cap. 56 LFN 1990 as incorporated under paragraph 11, part 1, fifth schedule of the 1999 Constitution and punishable under section 23 of the Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• That you Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha while being the Governor of Bayelsa State between 29th May 1999 and 9th December 2005 failed to declare One Billion Naira worth of Shares acquired in Bond bank and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. Cap. 56 LFN 1990 as incorporated under paragraph 11, part 1, fifth schedule of the 1999 Constitution and punishable under section 23 of the Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• That you Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha while being the Governor of Bayelsa State between 29th May 1999 and 9th December 2005 failed to declare the following properities:-
i Plot 916 & 917, Wuse II District, Abuja
ii Plot 7, Cadastral Zone A6, Maltama Abuja
iii Plot1267, Amazon Road, Abuja
iv Plot 3375, cadastral Zone A6, Abuja
v Plot 1372-1374, Cadastral Zone A7, Wuse II, Abuja
vi Plot 1281, cadastral Zone A4, Asokoro, Abuja.
Thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. Cap. 56 LFN 1990 as incorporated under paragraph 11, part 1, fifth schedule of the 1999 Constitution and punishable under section 23 of the Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.