By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor, ABUJA
 |
| Chief James Ibori |
Former governor
of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, on Wednesday, described as false and
shocking the claim by the British government that it was unaware of
alleged funding of his investigation and conviction by the Department for
International Development, DfID. It will be recalled that while on an official
trip to Nigeria last week, UK’s Minister for International Development, Mr.
James
Wharton, had told the media that his country was not aware of what the
Nigerian media had written about DfID’s role in Ibori’s trial. However, Ibori’s
media aide, Mr. Tony Eluemunor, in a statement released in Abuja, yesterday,
expressed shock and indignation over the minister’s claim of ignorance over the
role played by DfID in the former governor’s ordeal.
Eluemunor said the minister could not have been ignorant of
such details since his attention had been drawn to the allegations several
times, the last being as recent as August 21, 2016. The Media aide said
one of such information was contained in documents already at the disposal of
the minister and the DfID. According to the media aide to the former governor,
some of the documents are contained in separate letters written by Bert de Boer
against conviction in the V Mobile Case. He said: “Mr. Lambertus de Boer
wrote in the e-mail ‘Dear Mr. Wharton, Re: 1. Department for International
Development’s Role in UK Prosecution of Ibori Cases and V-Mobile Case : James
Ibori, Bhadresh Gohil, Lambertus de Boer & Daniel McCann (& others) and
Police Corruption/Prosecutorial Misconduct (collectively known as: ‘DfIDgate’)
“The world has long known that the bedrock of the British
judicial system has always been its openness, transparency and that a defendant
is innocent until proven guilty. It is excellent for all those concerned that
the British government, via a senior minister in the Department for
International Development, has chosen to make it clear to the world that
corruption in an investigative and prosecution team will not be tolerated.
“What surprises the world is that it has taken the British government so long
to make this statement.’’ Eluemunor quoted Bert de Boer as writing to Mr.
Wharton, saying: “I write to apprise you as an elected official and/or as
someone responsible for the proper functioning and/or oversight of (a) the UK’s
humanitarian aid agency – The Department for International Development (DfID)
and/or b) the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in relation to the ongoing
developments relating to the controversial DfID funding and pioneering MPS’s UK
prosecution of James Ibori, the former Governor of Delta State, Nigeria and
various linked case(s), including mine, known as the V Mobile case.
“It is important for
you to note that while I do not oppose the fight on corruption, in emerging
markets or anywhere for that matter, the issue with my case and the linked
Ibori cases is that: The MPS Proceeds of Corruption Unit (‘POCU’)
investigations were flawed— proper disclosure was not provided as expected by
every defendant in the British legal system.
“DfID was and
remains completely conflicted, holding roles on steering committees,
paymasters/investors with Ibori through CDC etc.— DfID’s wide ranging role as
funder of the Ibori cases and V Mobile case was withheld~ DfID’s and their
subsidiary, CDC Group plc’s investments with James Ibori were withheld/hidden
and never investigated~ MPS POCU corruption now confirmed by the CPS to the
Appeal Court~ and serious prosecutorial misconduct misleading both the Crown
and Appeal Courts.”
The letter continued: “Over the past six months, much about
the police corruption and prosecution misconduct has emerged, particularly
through the recently aborted Bhadresh Gohil Perversion of Justice (“PoJ”)
prosecution in January 2016. ‘’Post this case at the unilateral request of the
Director of Public Prosecutions, the National Crime Agency (“NCA”) has been
appointed to undertake a comprehensive review (including the safety of the
convictions) of the Ibori cases and the V Mobile case~ to consider
whether adequate disclosures were made to the various defendants and to the
Crown and Appeal Courts and other possible directions.”
Culled
From Vanguard
No comments:
Post a Comment