Ibori: Delta elders send fresh petition to EFCC

Written by The Punch Wednesday, 10 March 2010 11:53

Some prominent leaders from Delta State operating under the aegis of the Delta State Elders, Leaders and Stakeholders Forum have sent a fresh petition to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, asking it to investigate a former governor of the state, Chief James Ibori.

The elders sought to know from the anti-graft agency if its refusal to investigate fresh allegations against Ibori was because the former governor was a sacred cow.

The petition, which was dated March 8, 2010, was addressed to the commission’s chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri.

The elders, who signed the petition were a former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark; Chief Patrick Ideh; Dr. Richard Tosanwumi; Col. G.A.Eboma (rtd); Chief Hope Erute; Chief Williams Ekpebitere; Sir Eddy Akangbou; Dr. B.K Adasen; Prince A. Abugbo; and Benson Lelekumo.

Copies of the petition were sent to Delta State Governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode(SAN); and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Lamido Sanusi.

They asked the commission to explain whether it was right to use the state government’s shares to obtain N44bn private loan from a bank.

According to them, they said there was evidence that shares worth N528.010m in Oceanic Bank belonging to the Delta State Government was used to guarantee over N44bn granted Ascot Offshore Nigeria Limited by Intercontinental Bank Plc.

The elders’ petition was titled, “EFCC, prosecute Chief James Onanefe Ibori for fraudulently selling N528.010 units of shares in Oceanic Bank Plc belonging to Delta State Government.”

The elders wrote, “Is your commission selective in choosing which former public officers to prosecute or is it because Chief James Ibori is a sacred cow?

“It will be recalled that non-secured debtors and non-performing debtors have been arrested and arraigned before courts of competent jurisdiction.

“The issue is why your commissions operating a double standard when it comes to any case involving Chief James Ibori?

“The report of the investigation has established a prima facie case of financial impropriety regarding the sale of N528.10m shares in Oceanic Bank Plc belonging to Delta State Government.

“Chief James Ibori during his tenure as governor of Delta State used the state’s shares to secure a private loan for his personal company i.e. Ascot Offshore Nigeria Limited.”