The United States of America may have resolved to freeze assets belonging to the embattled former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori.
A report by the online-based Saharareporters.com quoted a US government source as saying that the National Security Adviser in the US, Mr. Stephen Hadley, held a meeting with the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, two weeks ago during which he informed the EFCC boss of plans to freeze Ibori�s asset.
However, Hadley, according to the report, was said to have added a caveat that the US would act only on the condition that Ibori was arrested first and put to trial in Nigeria.
The report added that the US official told Ribadu that the condition was necessary because of the lackluster attitude exhibited by Nigeria in the case of alleged money laundering involving former Senior Special Assistant to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Andy Uba.
Uba had been accused of exporting about $170,000 to the US through Obasanjo�s presidential jet.
The US, according to the report, had found it difficult to prosecute Uba because it did not get the required cooperation from the Nigerian authorities.
The source quoted Hadley as telling Ribadu, �The American officials made it clear that as soon as the EFCC comes down on Ibori, they�ll also move against his American assets.
�But if you guys look the other way, as you did in the case of Uba, we�re not going to do your job for you.�
A Federal High Court in Benin, Edo State capital had, on Friday, vacated an order which barred the EFCC from arresting the former governor and gaining access to documents on financial transactions in the state during Ibori�s tenure.
Justice Gloria Okeke, who had earlier granted the controversial order, decided to invalidate her earlier order.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Government will today (Monday) file an appeal against last Friday�s ruling of a Federal High Court, Benin, which struck out its suit against the EFCC and the Federal Government.
The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dafe Akpedeye (SAN), in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Sunday, said the processes for the appeal were ready.
He added that the processes would be filed at the Court of Appeal, Benin, the Edo State Capital, on Monday morning.
Akpedeye told our correspondent that the state would seek an interlocutory injunction at the Court of Appeal to restrain all the parties, especially the respondents, to maintain the status quo pending the final determination of the case.
Akpedeye described the Justice Okeke�s ruling that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit as �ridiculous and terrible.�
Nov122007