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


« Nigerian women defying bike ban | Main | Arewa warns 3rd term campaigners; It is mere speculation – Gov. Muazu »

December 20, 2005

Nigeria governor on fraud charges

An impeached Nigerian governor has appeared in a Lagos court on 40 counts of corruption and money-laundering.

Diepreye Alamieyeseigha was arrested in oil-rich Bayelsa state earlier this month after jumping bail in the UK.

His is accused of owning several multi-million dollar mansions in Nigeria, London and Cape Town.

He was not asked to plead but has previously denied that £1.8m ($3.2m) found in cash and bank accounts in London belonged to him.

He is expected to enter a plea on Wednesday after his lawyers have had time to study the charge-sheet.

At the court, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecutor Rotimi Jacobs told the BBC that Nigeria would be prepared to start extradition proceedings, if the British government made a formal request to hand Mr Alamieyeseigha over.

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

Achievement

Mr Alamieyeseigha enjoyed immunity from prosecution in Nigeria as a governor, until he was impeached.

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


Nigerian officials said Mr Alamieyeseigha left Britain disguised in women's clothing, although he has denied this.

He said the charges against him were politically motivated.

This move is an achievement for President Olusegun Obasanjo's anti-corruption crusade.

The president set up a special anti-corruption body 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).

Posted by Publisher at December 20, 2005 04:39 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