By Ike Abonyi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Tuesday said it would go after those who allegedly assisted former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, to launder stolen funds.
The anti-graft agency also hinted that the commission, in its bid to “to bring all Ibori accomplices to book, no matter how long it takes”, recently questioned some persons believed to have assisted the former governor in laundering the stolen funds
In a statement signed by its Acting Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC said despite the fact that Ibori was still going to face criminal charges in Nigeria. “The bulk of the criminal charges against the former governor are still before courts in Nigeria and there are no plans to vacate those charges. Moreover, the former governor didn’t steal alone.”
“For the benefit of stakeholders and lovers of justice, it is interesting to note that the offences for which Ibori faces imminent jail term in London is only a minute aspect of the bouquet of offences committed by the former governor during his eight year rule of Delta State.”
Ibori had on Monday pleaded guilty to fraud, stealing and money laundering charges before a Southwark Crown Court in London.
Noting that Ibori’s acceptance of corruption in the UK “is a welcome development which vindicates the commission’s position abi nitio that Ibori had a case to answer,” the EFCC said: “The interesting aspect of the development in London is the fact that Ibori chickened out of a full blown fraud and money laundering trial by changing his plea.”
This was purely a gambit to run away with a lighter sentence, rather than the product of a plea bargain as erroneously reported earlier in sections of the media. For the avoidance doubt, plea bargain is not recorgnised in UK criminal justice system.”
The commission further stated that it was sad the Ibori case, “Sadly, it has taken five years of legal rigmarole and high drama for the former governor to own up to having committed some of the crimes for which Justice Marcel Awokulehin of the Federal High Court, Asaba, sensationally acquitted him in December 2009. The Commission challenged the ruling. That appeal is still pending before the Court of Appeal, Benin City, Edo State.
“While the EFCC looks forward to the sentencing of Ibori on April 16, it is however, a matter of concern that it took the intervention of the UK criminal justice system for justice to be served in the Ibori case. While all who worry over the effect of corruption on our nation may celebrate the Ibori guilt plea, we must all spare a thought for our judiciary, which needs urgent reform to ensure that those who loot our treasury do not get away with their loot. In deed, Nigerians must rally in support of the dogged efforts of the incumbent Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher to reform the judiciary for greater efficiency.
“Now that Ibori has owned up to his crime, the Commission is mindful of the concern in some quarters as to what becomes of his case with the EFCC. Will he be arrested and tried again on the completion of his jail term in London ? Or, will the EFCC close the Ibori case?” the statement added.
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