THERESA Nkoyo Ibori, wife of the former Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori, was yesterday convicted by the Southwark Crown Court, London.
Ibori is being detained in Dubai by the United Arab Emirate (UAE) authority, awaiting the outcome of his appeal against a court ruling, which okayed his extradition to the UK.
If Ibori loses his appeal, he will be extradited to the UK to face a set of three trials relating to money laundering and sundry misapplication of state funds between 1999 and 2007.
She was found guilty of the money laundering charges preferred against her.
Nkoyo may spend the next two to five years in prison, it was learnt yesterday.
The London jury gave its verdict after she was found guilty on two counts of money laundering.
Her husband’s United Kingdom (UK) lawyer, Mr. Bhadresh Gohil, who was also on trial with Nkoyo, has been found guilty on all counts of money laundering.
He has been remanded in police custody.
Gohil will be sentenced after the conclusion of another trial involving the laundering of proceeds of V-Mobile shares by James Ibori, Henry Imashekka, David Edevbie and former Akwa Ibom governor, Victor Attah.
The trial will start next Monday.
In a previous trial, the court had also sent to prison Ibori’s sister, Christine Ibori-Ibie; and his mistress, Udoamaka Okoronkwo-Onuigbo.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
FBI training for EFCC, SSS, police officers
BARRING any last minute changes, another batch of officials from the United States (U.S.) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are due in Nigeria this weekend.
Their mission is to commence a five-day training programme on strategies to combat hostage taking and negotiation for officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and officers of other law enforcement agencies such as the police and State Security Service (SSS).
Their mission is to commence a five-day training programme on strategies to combat hostage taking and negotiation for officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and officers of other law enforcement agencies such as the police and State Security Service (SSS).
Assault: Plateau police command arrests 4 peace corps members
Four members of the Peace Corps of Nigeria have been arrested by the Plateau State Police Command for assaulting a police detective during a recruitment exercise by the organisation, even as the command said activities of the organisation are illegal.
The Police Public Relation officer, Mohammed Lerama who said the recruitment into the organisation was illegal because of its earlier banned, added that the police decided to investigate it when it got wind of recruitment into the organisation last week.
According to him, on getting to the field where the recruitment was being carried out, some staff of the organisation descended on the police officers who was investigating the recruitment exercise and manhandled him.
In the raid that followed, the police arrested four staff and three applicants and items recovered include two sacks of T-shirts, 18 rolls of face cap, two LG coloured television, one desk-top monitor, one UPS, one printer, a bundle of peace corps pamphlets, one banner and one signboard.
In a related development, one Alhaji Idris Isah had been arrested for impersonating the Taraba State Commissioner of Education, while attempting to collect N13,000 to give the “press a contract”
The command also disclosed that an internet fraud star who threatened one Mr Etukudoh Sunday with death if he fails to deposit a N1.9 million into a bank account in 30 minutes or loss his life and a descript “investigation, one suspects, Stephen Jonah was arrested in Kogi state” and is deeply involve in the case, he said.
The Police Public Relation officer, Mohammed Lerama who said the recruitment into the organisation was illegal because of its earlier banned, added that the police decided to investigate it when it got wind of recruitment into the organisation last week.
According to him, on getting to the field where the recruitment was being carried out, some staff of the organisation descended on the police officers who was investigating the recruitment exercise and manhandled him.
In the raid that followed, the police arrested four staff and three applicants and items recovered include two sacks of T-shirts, 18 rolls of face cap, two LG coloured television, one desk-top monitor, one UPS, one printer, a bundle of peace corps pamphlets, one banner and one signboard.
In a related development, one Alhaji Idris Isah had been arrested for impersonating the Taraba State Commissioner of Education, while attempting to collect N13,000 to give the “press a contract”
The command also disclosed that an internet fraud star who threatened one Mr Etukudoh Sunday with death if he fails to deposit a N1.9 million into a bank account in 30 minutes or loss his life and a descript “investigation, one suspects, Stephen Jonah was arrested in Kogi state” and is deeply involve in the case, he said.
Delta acting gov sacks commissioners
The acting governor of Delta State, Prince Sam Obi, on Monday dissolved the state executive council.
Last week, a list of six commissioner - nominees was sent to the state House of Assembly by the acting governor for confirmation. The nominees are expected to be screened by the House today.
Announcing the sack of the commissioners in a statement, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Beatrice Omeni, directed them to hand over the management of their various ministries and government properties in their possession to the permanent secretaries or the most senior director, where there was no permanent secretary.
Dr Omeni conveyed the acting governor’s appreciation to the commissioners for their contributions towards the growth of the state, even as a new executive council would soon be put in place.
The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the dissolution was aimed at getting rid of technocrats, while most of the affected ones are likely to return.
Meanwhile, the state government has constituted a nine-member council of Delta State School of Marine Technology, Burutu, headed by Professor Ben Okaba.
The Acting Provost of the school is Mr Ditimi Johnson Adjekota, while Mr Izonwe Oteheri Solomon is to serve as Acting Registrar.
In another development, the acting governor, Prince Obi on Monday admonished religious organisations to continue in prayers, as this was needed to make the state and country better.
Reactions to Atiku’s nomination
Ibrahim Babangida-
“The IBB Presidential Campaign Organisation commits itself to all the elements of the Consensus Agreement and understanding. On behalf of His Excellency,General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, GCFR, we wish to congratulate His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON as the Consensus Candidate,” Raymond Dokpesi, the director general of the Ibrahim Babangida Campaign Organisation,who signed the statement, said in the statement.
The organization said that the outcome of the two-months exercise should be applauded because of the rogours the committee went through in search of a consensus candidate.“The outcome of the consensus exercise which the Adamu Ciroma Committee selflessly imposed upon itself in the past two months must be loudly applauded for the rigour of their search, conduct, and foresight.
It said,“The Committee inaugurated a process to tackle a challenge the result of which will outlive the politically induced crisis which called the Committee into existence.The outcome of the Consensus Exercise has truly humbled all the Presidential Aspirants.
“We once again, thank everyone of the membership of this committee. We all know the gravity of what the Aspirants have done. We know that in doing what they have done,this great nation and all Nigerians shall manifestly be served.“They did not submit themselves to this exercise so as to fail, far from it. The machinery of success which they inaugurated previously has become further strengthened and deeply rooted. It shall be well with the Consensus Outcome, and it shall manifestly be well for all Nigerians.
” Goodluck Jonathan-
Fellow Nigerians, as you notice an upswing in political activities I want to assure you that not only will I focus on my sworn commitment of providing leadership for ALL Nigerians, I will also run and encourage others to run a national campaign devoid of sectionalism because leaders ought to unite not divide.Again, the only difference we should look for in Nigeria is between good and bad not North and South.
Bukola Saraki:
ABS 2011 campaign organization, in the spirit of peace, national unity and sustenance of democracy in our great country, has accepted the decision of consensus committee set up by Northern Political Leaders forum,
(NPLF) under the chairmanship of Mall Adamu Ciroma. The committee has chosen former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to be the consensus candidate of the PDP aspirant from the North.ASB 2011 campaign organization thereby congratulates Atiku Abubakar and pledges to abide by the cooperative arrangement of the process that produced him. Our candidate Dr. Abubakr Bukola Saraki also salutes and profoundly thank his campaign team and supporters across the Country for their prayers and loyalty.
Aliyu Gusau:
The Aliyu Gusau Campaign Organization has congratulated His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar for emerging as the consensus candidate, picked by the Adamu Ciroma- led committee. In a statement issued by the organization, it reiterated the initial pledge and commitment of its principal. Rtd Lt- General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau to respect the verdict of the committee and give unqualified support to whoever emerges as the committee’s candidate. “Without the slightest equivocation”, the statement reads “the principal and the entire campaign organization stand by this pledge. The statement recalled the oft- repeated statement of General Gusau that electoral contest should not be a do or die affair, stressing that he was in the race fundamentally to serve.
The statement paid tributes to the members of the committee for the pains and sacrifice they undertook before arriving at this significant event. It equally noted that the committee members have, by their extensive consultations and unique contributions helped to moderate the stress and intense partisanship which could have governed the political campaign process. While extending its hand of fellowship to the preferred candidate, Atiku Abubakar and its campaign organization, the statement urged the vast followers of General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau to remain calm and undeterred by this outcome, urging them to await further directives.
Nuhu Ribadu:
“Our campaign organization received the news with interest. While we understand the matter as purely a PDP affair,
we nevertheless wish them luck in their coming primaries, hoping in the process that the PDP will ultimately give consideration to a national imperative as a guide to their party processes”.
Aghanya Denni:
Congress for Progressive Change- The emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the consensus presidential candidate of the Northerners in the PDP is an expression of a people’s wish and no two ways about it. The struggle is premised on the fact that promises are meant to be kept.
If there was an agreement of zoning at a point, it should be kept. If his choice is a popular choice of the Northern PDP members, so be it.
2nd Alteration Bill: Houses of Assembly submit resolutions - Nigerian Observer
Another milestone in the history of Nigeria’s constitutional development was yesterday achieved, when the Conference of Nigeria Speakers submitted their state Assemblies resolutions on 2nd Alteration Bill 2010 of the Nigerian Constitution to the National Assembly.
Making the symbolic handover to Senate President David Mark, Chairman of the Speakers Conference, Barr. Haruna Gbana, commended NASS for their decision to appeal the recent judgment concerning the 1st Alteration Bill.
“It is my humble opinion that because of the anxiety generated by this judgment and the likelihood of this matter heating up the polity as we get nearer to the May 29th handover date, the Judiciary should in the national interest accelerate the process of taking a final decision on this matter”, he said.
This is even as Senate President Mark submitted that the inclusion of a clause that makes members of the NASS automatic members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of their parties is not self-serving as the Act would outlive them in office.
“How can it be self serving; does it mean that after the tenure of this National Assembly, the Act would be thrown away? No, when passed into law, it would be a law that will outlive all of us.
There is no need for people to castigate members of the National Assembly; we will always abide by Superior argument; I advise all Nigerians to come to Public Hearing ahead of the Electoral Bill; whatever the majority views are would be binding on us; there is nothing secret”, Sen. Mark continued.
He stressed that the National Assembly welcomes constructive criticism and that “it helps us perform better, but must be based on sound reasoning”, asserting that the NASS now understands the due process of Constitution amendment and praised
the 36 State Houses of Assembly for living up to the expectations of Nigerians.
By so doing, Senator Mark added that members of the State Houses of Assembly have exhibited uncommon patriotism and commitment to nationhood.
Earlier, the chairman of conference of Speakers, Istifanus Gbana had also told the NASS that the State Assemblies had to fast track the process of the alteration including shelving their holidays in order to meet the time frame for the 2011 polls.
With this alteration, Gbana said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has no reason to delay the process of conducting free, fair and credible elections.
“The state legislatures for sure cannot be blamed for whatever may stand in the way of achieving the much talked about free, fair and credible election come 2011”, he added.
Making the symbolic handover to Senate President David Mark, Chairman of the Speakers Conference, Barr. Haruna Gbana, commended NASS for their decision to appeal the recent judgment concerning the 1st Alteration Bill.
“It is my humble opinion that because of the anxiety generated by this judgment and the likelihood of this matter heating up the polity as we get nearer to the May 29th handover date, the Judiciary should in the national interest accelerate the process of taking a final decision on this matter”, he said.
This is even as Senate President Mark submitted that the inclusion of a clause that makes members of the NASS automatic members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of their parties is not self-serving as the Act would outlive them in office.
“How can it be self serving; does it mean that after the tenure of this National Assembly, the Act would be thrown away? No, when passed into law, it would be a law that will outlive all of us.
There is no need for people to castigate members of the National Assembly; we will always abide by Superior argument; I advise all Nigerians to come to Public Hearing ahead of the Electoral Bill; whatever the majority views are would be binding on us; there is nothing secret”, Sen. Mark continued.
He stressed that the National Assembly welcomes constructive criticism and that “it helps us perform better, but must be based on sound reasoning”, asserting that the NASS now understands the due process of Constitution amendment and praised
the 36 State Houses of Assembly for living up to the expectations of Nigerians.
By so doing, Senator Mark added that members of the State Houses of Assembly have exhibited uncommon patriotism and commitment to nationhood.
Earlier, the chairman of conference of Speakers, Istifanus Gbana had also told the NASS that the State Assemblies had to fast track the process of the alteration including shelving their holidays in order to meet the time frame for the 2011 polls.
With this alteration, Gbana said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has no reason to delay the process of conducting free, fair and credible elections.
“The state legislatures for sure cannot be blamed for whatever may stand in the way of achieving the much talked about free, fair and credible election come 2011”, he added.
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