The British government has denied persistent claims by the former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, that he jumped bail and escaped from the country in November 2005 with the help of the London Metropolitan Police.
Alamieyeseigha, who had been arrested and charged to court in London for money laundering, had said on arrival in Nigeria that he just found himself in the country by �miracle�. But he said at a reception two months ago after his release from prison that his escape was facilitated by the Metropolitan Police.
Denying the claim yesterday, the British High Commi-ssioner to Nigeria, Sir Richard Gozney, who was on a farewell visit to the Editors of THISDAY Newspapers, said it was �nonsensical�.
�No reasonable Nigerian will believe that. As far as we are concerned, he still has a case to answer in the United Kingdom,� he said.
Asked whether the charges against the former governor would continue, he said the case was still on and that he would be arrested anytime he enters the United Kingdom.
On fears that the prosecution of notable ex-officials from the oil-rich Niger Delta region such as Alamieyeseigha and Chief James Ibori might jeopardise his country�s economic interest, he said the British Government acknowledged such.
“We know, for instance that some Ijaw leaders were not happy about the arrest and trial of the former Bayelsa State governor. But we have to do something because we have responsibilities under the law to discourage money-laundering and fraudulent practices. What we try to do is to hasten the cases,� he further explained.
He said the renewed anti-corruption stance of the British government was meant to redeem British image and save the economies of poor developing nations which “are often the victims of massive looting of public funds by officials.”
He said: �We got fed up with the accusation of being an easy route for stashing away dirty money.
About four and a half years ago, the United Kingdom made a law to address the problem.�
He said the law particularly proved useful in monitoring the financial dealings of top public officials who are tempted to stash away looted public funds in British banks or use them to acquire property in the UK.
He cited the example of the recovery of the Abacha loot by the Nigerian government through the assistance of the British Govern-ment as a case in which the new legislation was put to desired effect.
�Because of money-laundering cases, we have changed our law, and that has shaped our approach. If any public official anywhere in the world brings huge money to the United Kingdom, we are going to investigate him, especially when such money cannot be clearly accounted for,” he emphasised.
The High Commissioner, however, refused to comment on individual cases such as those of former governors of Delta, Plateau and Bayelsa states, Chiefs James Ibori, Joshua Dariye and Alamie-yeseigha, who have pending cases against them in different British courts.
He said that the British officials were still awaiting prosecutorial evidence from the Nigerian authorities for the trials to progress.
Commenting on the trial of former Enugu State Governor, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over charges of money laundering and corrupt enrichment against the backdrop of his endorsement by some European Union ambassadors two years ago, he said he stood by the EU assessment.
The High Commissioner who was part of the EU delegation that visited the state at that time, said Nnamani�s performance was responsible for the assessment, adding that they were shown physical projects on ground, which was glaring at the time.
He, however, added that he could not vouch for what had happened in the state since then or the processes for the award of the various contracts by the former governor.
�I cannot say more for now. We have to wait and see what happens as the case progresses,� the high commissioner said.
Also commenting on the fees charged for the processing of British visas, he said, �The UK visa is the same around the world. So, worldwide, we have to increase our visa fees.
This is not peculiar to Nigeria. It is across the universe, be it in Australia, India or elsewhere. We abide by the law.�
Earlier, the Chairman /Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY Newspapers Group, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, while welcoming the High Comm-issioner, had outlined the guiding principles and cardinal objectives of the newspaper group.
The principles, according to him, include democracy, free enterprise and social justice.
Oct172007