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Embattled former Delta State Governor James Ibori on Tuesday fled Oghara, his hometown as a high-powered police team raised by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, swooped on the community to arrest him.
It was gathered that Ibori fled the community amidst tight security provided by armed youths.
All security men, especially police orderlies attached to him had, earlier on Tuesday, been withdrawn allegedly on the orders of Onovo.
The team was led by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, in charge of Zone 5 and 6, Mr. Udom Ekpoudom.
Other members of the team were the AIG in charge of Zone 5, Mr. Mohammed Abubakah, and the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, Mr. Yakubu Alkali.
It was learnt that Ekpoudom had planned to meet Ibori to persuade him to willingly surrender himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before about 1,000 armed youths engaged the team in a heavy shoot-out.
Our correspondents gathered that Ekpoudom-led team retreated amidst sporadic gunshots.
Although the level of casualty from the exchange of fire could not be ascertained before press time on Tuesday, our correspondents learnt that some policemen and the youths sustained various degrees of injuries.
Ibori was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission last week for failing to honour an invitation to him.
A group, the Delta State Leaders, Elders and Stakeholders Forum, had petitioned the EFCC alleging that Ibori sold millions of shares belonging to the Delta State Government and used the proceed to offset a loan he used to purchase an American oil servicing firm, Wilbros.
On Monday, THE PUNCH had reported that Acting President Jonathan had directed Onovo to effect Ibori’s arrest after the anti-graft agency informed him that the former governor was heavily protected by armed policemen and personal guards.
A senior police officer, who insisted on not being quoted, told one of our correspondents on Tuesday that Ekpoudom had briefed Onovo on Tuesday’s development in Delta State. He added that the IG would brief Jonathan on the incident on Tuesday night.
The source said, “The team led by the DIG in charge of Zones 5 and 6, Mr. Udom Ekpoudom, was attacked today (Tuesday) by some armed youths numbering over 1,000 in Oghara as the team tried to carry out the presidential order that Ibori should be arrested to face charges by EFCC.
“The team quickly beat a retreat following the superior fire power of the irate youths. The DIG had briefed the IG, who will in turn meet the Acting President this (Tuesday) evening on the way forward.”
A Peoples Democratic Party chieftain in the state, who pleaded anonymity, saying he did not witness the incident, however told our correspondent that the number of armed youths guarding Ibori, the biggest power broker in the state, was over 1000.
When contacted, Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, confirmed that Onovo detailed the AIG, Zone 5 and the police in Delta State to make the arrest in compliance with the warrant of arrest issued by a Federal High Court.
Ojukwu did not say the location of the high court that issued the arrest warrant but he claimed that Onovo had received it (warrant) on Tuesday.
He explained that the presence of Ekpoudom in the state merely coincided with his routine visit to the Police commands under his supervision in Zones 5 and 6.
Ojukwu said that it was sad that the police team was attacked by “ armed thugs .”
He said, “The IG detailed the AIG in charge of Zone 5, Benin and the Commissioner of Police in Delta State to arrest the former governor in compliance with the warrant of arrest we received from the court this (Tuesday) morning.
“Our men went to carry out the warrant but they were attacked by armed thugs.”
While the shootout lasted, some armed youths seized the Benin—Warri Expressway and prevented free flow of traffic on the busy road.
Commuters and motorists were stranded for many hours as they could not proceed on their journey from the Oghara end of the highway.
Many motorists lost their personal effects and a bullion van conveying money to an unknown destination was almost hijacked by the irate youths.
The youths were yet to vacate the highway as at 5pm when our correspondent left the scene.
Ibori has, however, lamented the withdrawal of his police guards.
He said such action was the first step in defying an order by a Federal High Court in Asaba directing that the status quo in the case between him and the EFCC be maintained.
The former governor stated this through a statement by his Media Assistant, Mr. Tony Eluemunor, in Abuja.
Elumunor said, “EFCC agents have been harassing people in Ibori’s houses in Lagos, Abuja and Oghara in total disregard of that court order.”
Meanwhile, political appointees in Bayelsa State have adopted a low profile because of the onslaught of the EFCC against public officers in the state.
It was gathered that the state officials were apprehensive despite assurances by Jonathan that he was not behind the EFCC’s crackdown on top government officers in the state.
The situation is worsened by the manhunt for Ibori, who is believed to be in a hideout in the creeks of the Niger Delta.
One of our correspondents noticed that the huge number of politicians and their luxury vehicles that are usually visible on the streets of Yenagoa, the state capital, have disappeared.
A well publicised event which would have been hosted by the embattled Bayelsa State Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Opuola-Charles, on Tuesday was hurriedly put off at the last-minute.
Opuola-Charles had announced on state radio that he would give a break down of the state’s N187.5bn budget for 2010 budget at a popular hotel in Yenagoa.
The Ministry of Finance also announced that special accreditation would be required by civil society groups and journalists desirous of attending the event.
But the announcement caused an immediate stir in the state as several people questioned the embattled commissioner’s continued existence as the person in charge of the state’s finances.
An announcement on the state radio said the presentation was called off due to “unforeseen circumstances.
Opuola-Charles was recently declared wanted by the EFCC for allegedly laundering about N2.5bn of state funds. He is presently on bail in the sum of N100m.
When contacted, the spokespersons for the government declined comments.
It was gathered that Ibori fled the community amidst tight security provided by armed youths.
All security men, especially police orderlies attached to him had, earlier on Tuesday, been withdrawn allegedly on the orders of Onovo.
The team was led by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, in charge of Zone 5 and 6, Mr. Udom Ekpoudom.
Other members of the team were the AIG in charge of Zone 5, Mr. Mohammed Abubakah, and the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, Mr. Yakubu Alkali.
It was learnt that Ekpoudom had planned to meet Ibori to persuade him to willingly surrender himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before about 1,000 armed youths engaged the team in a heavy shoot-out.
Our correspondents gathered that Ekpoudom-led team retreated amidst sporadic gunshots.
Although the level of casualty from the exchange of fire could not be ascertained before press time on Tuesday, our correspondents learnt that some policemen and the youths sustained various degrees of injuries.
Ibori was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission last week for failing to honour an invitation to him.
A group, the Delta State Leaders, Elders and Stakeholders Forum, had petitioned the EFCC alleging that Ibori sold millions of shares belonging to the Delta State Government and used the proceed to offset a loan he used to purchase an American oil servicing firm, Wilbros.
On Monday, THE PUNCH had reported that Acting President Jonathan had directed Onovo to effect Ibori’s arrest after the anti-graft agency informed him that the former governor was heavily protected by armed policemen and personal guards.
A senior police officer, who insisted on not being quoted, told one of our correspondents on Tuesday that Ekpoudom had briefed Onovo on Tuesday’s development in Delta State. He added that the IG would brief Jonathan on the incident on Tuesday night.
The source said, “The team led by the DIG in charge of Zones 5 and 6, Mr. Udom Ekpoudom, was attacked today (Tuesday) by some armed youths numbering over 1,000 in Oghara as the team tried to carry out the presidential order that Ibori should be arrested to face charges by EFCC.
“The team quickly beat a retreat following the superior fire power of the irate youths. The DIG had briefed the IG, who will in turn meet the Acting President this (Tuesday) evening on the way forward.”
A Peoples Democratic Party chieftain in the state, who pleaded anonymity, saying he did not witness the incident, however told our correspondent that the number of armed youths guarding Ibori, the biggest power broker in the state, was over 1000.
When contacted, Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, confirmed that Onovo detailed the AIG, Zone 5 and the police in Delta State to make the arrest in compliance with the warrant of arrest issued by a Federal High Court.
Ojukwu did not say the location of the high court that issued the arrest warrant but he claimed that Onovo had received it (warrant) on Tuesday.
He explained that the presence of Ekpoudom in the state merely coincided with his routine visit to the Police commands under his supervision in Zones 5 and 6.
Ojukwu said that it was sad that the police team was attacked by “ armed thugs .”
He said, “The IG detailed the AIG in charge of Zone 5, Benin and the Commissioner of Police in Delta State to arrest the former governor in compliance with the warrant of arrest we received from the court this (Tuesday) morning.
“Our men went to carry out the warrant but they were attacked by armed thugs.”
While the shootout lasted, some armed youths seized the Benin—Warri Expressway and prevented free flow of traffic on the busy road.
Commuters and motorists were stranded for many hours as they could not proceed on their journey from the Oghara end of the highway.
Many motorists lost their personal effects and a bullion van conveying money to an unknown destination was almost hijacked by the irate youths.
The youths were yet to vacate the highway as at 5pm when our correspondent left the scene.
Ibori has, however, lamented the withdrawal of his police guards.
He said such action was the first step in defying an order by a Federal High Court in Asaba directing that the status quo in the case between him and the EFCC be maintained.
The former governor stated this through a statement by his Media Assistant, Mr. Tony Eluemunor, in Abuja.
Elumunor said, “EFCC agents have been harassing people in Ibori’s houses in Lagos, Abuja and Oghara in total disregard of that court order.”
Meanwhile, political appointees in Bayelsa State have adopted a low profile because of the onslaught of the EFCC against public officers in the state.
It was gathered that the state officials were apprehensive despite assurances by Jonathan that he was not behind the EFCC’s crackdown on top government officers in the state.
The situation is worsened by the manhunt for Ibori, who is believed to be in a hideout in the creeks of the Niger Delta.
One of our correspondents noticed that the huge number of politicians and their luxury vehicles that are usually visible on the streets of Yenagoa, the state capital, have disappeared.
A well publicised event which would have been hosted by the embattled Bayelsa State Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Opuola-Charles, on Tuesday was hurriedly put off at the last-minute.
Opuola-Charles had announced on state radio that he would give a break down of the state’s N187.5bn budget for 2010 budget at a popular hotel in Yenagoa.
The Ministry of Finance also announced that special accreditation would be required by civil society groups and journalists desirous of attending the event.
But the announcement caused an immediate stir in the state as several people questioned the embattled commissioner’s continued existence as the person in charge of the state’s finances.
An announcement on the state radio said the presentation was called off due to “unforeseen circumstances.
Opuola-Charles was recently declared wanted by the EFCC for allegedly laundering about N2.5bn of state funds. He is presently on bail in the sum of N100m.
When contacted, the spokespersons for the government declined comments.
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