BNW

 

Biafra Nigeria World News & Archives

 

BNW News and Archives

 

 

BNW: the Authority on BiafraNigeria

BNW Magazine 

Biafra Nigeria World Forums and Message Board

 BNW News Archive

BNW Home

 

BNW Writer's Block

 WaZoBia @ BNW

Biafra Net

 Igbo Net

Africa World and BNW Africa 

Submit Article for Publication

BiafraNigeria Spacer

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

Flag of Biafra Nigeria

 

BNW News Archives

BNW News Archive 2002-January 2005

BNW News Archive 2005

BNW News Archive 2005 and Later

 

BiafraNigeriaWorld News: Weblogs Edition @ Blog Continent


« Crash: Perm Sec, Director suspended | Main | Police deny Tafa’s death rumour »

December 13, 2005

Goodluck for Nigeria's oil state

Jonathan Goodluck has been sworn in as the new governor for Nigeria's oil-rich Bayelsa state after the previous governor was impeached last week.
Diepreye Alamieyeseigha was arrested after his impeachment and could be sent back to the UK to face charges of money-laundering up to £1.8m ($3.2m).

Mr Goodluck was the deputy governor and is to stay in office until 2007 polls.

Diepreye Alamieyeseigha was arrested after his impeachment and could be sent back to the UK to face charges of money-laundering up to £1.8m ($3.2m).

Mr Goodluck was the deputy governor and is to stay in office until 2007 polls.

He promised to reduce poverty in what is one of Nigeria's most deprived areas, despite its oil wealth.

ThisDay newspaper reports that security was tight for the swearing-in ceremony.

"I enjoined my fellow Bayelsans, and indeed all people of the south, not to be dampened by the sad events of the recent past," Mr Goodluck said in his inaugural speech.

"On the contrary, I urge old and young to use this incident to reposition the state for a better future. "

'Shame'

Mr Alamieyeseigha skipped bail in the UK to return home to Bayelsa, hoping to benefit from the immunity from prosecution enjoyed by governors.

But he was widely condemned. President Olusegun Obasanjo said he had brought "shame" on Nigeria.

Last year, another Nigerian state governor returned home after being arrested in London . Joshua Dariye from Plateau state was quizzed by police on money laundering allegations involving more than £1m ($1.75m).

Everyone wants him

EFCC's Osita Nwajah


Profile: Nigeria's 'Houdini'
Mr Alamieyeseigha denied the charge of money laundering and said the money allegedly found in his house and bank accounts did not belong to him.

He said the charges against him were politically motivated.

As Nigeria battles to shed a reputation for corruption, this is the first time a governor has been impeached.

On the run

Mr Alamieyeseigha is also facing allegations of fraud by a special anti-corruption court sitting in the northern city of Kaduna.


"The cover of immunity has been taken away from him by the impeachment. We are going to move in immediately... The man has several cases against him. Everyone wants him," Osita Nwajah, spokesman for Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told AFP.

The president set up the EFCC anti-corruption body in order to fight fraud in a country ranked as one of the most corrupt in the world.

But his critics say the anti-corruption drive is bring used to eliminate political rivals.

Mr Alamieyeseigha is seen as being close to Vice-President Atiku Abubakar - who is vying with Mr Obasanjo for control of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Earlier this month, the governor was suspended from the PDP.


Posted by Publisher at December 13, 2005 02:29 PM

Comments

Post a comment

Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)


Remember me?





BNW Writers A-M


BNW Writers N-Z

 

BiafraNigeria Banner

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BiafraNigeria Spacer

BiafraNigeria Spacer

 

BNW Forums

 

The Voice of a New Generation