The embattled former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, has sneaked into the country.
Ibori, who fled to the United States of America following the heat generated by his trial for alleged money laundering in London, returned to the country on Thursday.
He is currently in his Oghara country home, headquarters of the Ethiope West Local Government of the state.
Investigation by Sunday Punch revealed that Ibori’s arrival coincided with the visit of the Metropolitan Police, which has spearheaded his trial over alleged graft in London.
It was learnt that his aides in Nigeria, particularly those serving in the administration of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, sent words to the ex-governor to return home to embark on a far-reaching consultations within and outside the state aimed at weakening the assignment of the London police.
Indications emerged on Thursday that the British police had arrived in the country on Wednesday to continue their investigation.
It was learnt that the outcome of the investigation in Nigeria was expected to form the nucleus of the evidence to be presented by the Economic and Specialist Crimes Directorate of the Metropolitan Police when the case comes up before a London Court of Appeal in November.
The Southwark Crown Court in London on October 1, discharged the worldwide restraint order granted on August 2 against Ibori, Erin Aviation and others.
The order had prevented the former governor and other suspects from having access to their property.
Our correspondent learnt that Ibori since arrival in Oghara on Thursday has been holding secret meetings with the security agencies, top officials of the Federal Government, top brass of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, and other eminent Nigerians, with a view to frustrating the investigation by the British police in the country.
Sunday Punch correspondent, who visited the palatial mansion of Ibori in Oghara on Saturday, reported that the town had become a beehive of activities since the ex-governor arrived in the Urhobo community on Thursday.
One of the aides of the former governor told Sunday Punch in Oghara on Saturday that his boss was meeting the leaders of the appropriate agencies of the Federal Government to put the records straight in the trial of Ibori in the United Kingdom.
He said, “His Excellency, Chief James Ibori, arrived Nigeria on Thursday and he’s now in his country home in Oghara, holding meetings with the people who could help him in his present predicament.
“Our boss [Ibori] met with some persons relevant to the case on Friday and he scheduled another meetings with other persons on Sunday [today] in bid to put up a strong defence on the graft case.”
However, fears heightened in government circles in the state on Saturday as report of the arrival of the Metropolitan Police was recieved in the state.
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