Posted by Bosun Sowemimo on
FEDERAL government yesterday won a major victory in its anti-graft war when British Metropolitan Police presented about £1 million (N232 million) cheque.....
FEDERAL government yesterday won a major victory in its anti-graft war when British Metropolitan Police presented about £1 million (N232 million) cheque representing total cash recovered from former Bayelsa State governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha to the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), Dr. Christopher Kolade.
Receiving the cheque at a brief ceremony held at the police headquarters on Victoria Street, London, Dr. Kolade said the gesture would send a strong signal to other Nigerian officials who want to loot public treasury that "UK environment is no longer safe for them."
"Daily Champion recalls that Chief Alamieyeseigha was arrested September 15, 2005 at Heathrow Airport, London by officers on allegations of money laundering.
He was subsequently arraigned in court, remanded in prison custody before he jumped bail and returned to Nigeria.
But speaking in London, Kolade praised the British government for "this gesture of cooperation which effectively denies Nigerian treasury looters the opportunity to use the UK financial system to siphon money out of Nigeria."
He urged other European nations and countries habouring funds looted from Nigeria to emulate the British government by releasing such money from their vaults.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Nigeria High Commission, London and signed by its head of information and culture, Chukwuonye Udegbunam.
On his part Directive Constable in Charge of Specialist Crime Directorates' Money Laundering Team, Mr. Peter Clark, said: "This seizure demonstrates the success of our application of the proceeds of crime act to stop criminals benefiting from illegally obtained money."
He paid glowing tribute to the mutual relationship which exists between the UK anti-money laundering agency, and Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and said the seizure of the money was made possible by this cooperation.
Describing the event as the first of its kind, Mr. Clark continued: "We believe these types of seizures will help deter financial crime in both London and Nigeria. The contacts and ongoing liaison established between Nigeria and The Economic and Specialist Crime unit will be utilised to target money laundering using London and its banking system."
The ceremony was watched by Lord Triesman from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Assistant Commissioner, Mr. Steve House, head of the Metropolitcan Police Specialist Crime Directorate. Also in attendance were some senior officials of the Nigerian High Commission, London.
Meanwhile, embattled Chief Alamieyeseigha yesterday filed a fresh application at a Federal High Court in Lagos seeking an order granting him bail out of EFCC custody pending his trial.
The motion on notice jointly signed by his lawyers Professor Alfred Kasunmu (SAN) Chief Mike Ozekhome and Mr. Mike Okoye was brought pursuant to section 118(2) and (3) of the Criminal Procedure Act 1990 and Section 35(1) and (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
An affidavit in support of the application sworn to by one Chidi Ifenkwem of Chief Ozekhome Chambers said the health situation of the applicant has seriously degenerated that there is an urgent need to fly him abroad for intensive medical treatment.
The affidavit stated that he was on June 21, 2006 taken from Barnes Hospital Victoria Island, Lagos to the University College Hospital, Ibadan for separate independent medical tests after which he was taken back not to his hospital but to EFCC office for detention.
It added that the results of the test confirmed the great danger to which his life is exposed to if urgent steps were not taken to give him proper medical attention abroad.
At the court sitting yesterday, the prosecution counsel Mr. Adeniyi Adebisi while insisting that the applicant must be present in court before the hearing on the application called for a short adjournment due to the applicant's health condition.
Responding, Alamieyeseigha's counsel Alfred Kasunmu objected to Adebisi's request saying that hearing on the application should not be stalled despite the absence of the applicant in court.
He said even if the court would have to adjourn, it should be very short because he wanted the hearing on the application accelerated.
Presiding judge, Hon Justice Mohammed Shuaib consequently adjourned the matter till July 14, 2006.
Reacting, Chief Mike Ozekhome told Daily Champion that Chief Alamieyeseigha needed an urgent intensive medical care as his doctors are even afraid he may drop dead at anytime.
"All medical tests locally and international from UK and Germany confirmed that his health is fast deteriorating. He needs surgical operation and the facilities for the heart operation are not available in Nigeria," he stated.