Ibori’s co-convict appeals decision in England

International business man, Lambertus de Boer convicted in connection with the James Ibori case, has appealed his conviction.De Boer said the case against him was deeply flawed and that latest revelations now corroborate his position. He added that the case was a gross miscarriage of justice because prosecutors have repeatedly lied and misrepresented the true facts.

The allegation was that Mr de Boer, acting with his co-suspects, Bhadresh Gohil (a partner in a solicitors firm, Arlington Sharmas) and Daniel McCann had entered into a ‘sham’agreement with senior officials from two Nigerian States of Akwa Ibom and Delta states.

The agreement concerned the sale of the shares in the telecommunications company, Veenetworks Nig. Limited (trading under the name V Mobile) beneficially owned by the tow Nigerian states. It was alleged that they used African Development Financie Limited (ADFL), a company owned by Mr de Boer and Mr McCann, as a conduit to launder $38million from Nigeria, under the guise of providing services/advice.

Through this company, with the assistance of Mr. Gohil, they were alleged to have invested in various other companies, including Brooke’s Aviation and Ascot Offshore Nigeria Limited, which allegedly have links to those involved in the original transaction. Ibori was singled out as one of the beneficiaries of the money laundering.

But de Boer in a letter to Mr. Mark Lowcock, Permanent Secretary, Department for International Development (DfiD) insists that his trial was flawed. “It is important for you to note that whilst I do not oppose the fight on corruption, in emerging markets or anywhere for that matter, the issue with my case and the linked Ibori cases is that: the MPS proceeds of corruption unit investigations were flawed; proper disclosure was not provided as expected by every defendant in the British Legal system; DfID was and remains completely conflicted, holding roles on steering committees,paymasters/investors with Ibori through CDC etc.; DfID’s wide ranging role as funder of the Ibori cases and V Mobile case was withheld; DfID’s and their subsidiary, CDC Group plc’s investments with James Ibori were withheld/hidden and never investigated, MPS POCU corruption now confirmed by the CPS to the Appeal Court; and Serious prosecutorial misconduct misleading both the Crown and Appeal Courts.

“Over the past six months, much about the police corruption and prosecution misconduct has emerged, particularly through the recently aborted Bhadresh Gohil Perversion of Justice (“PoJ”) prosecution in January 2016.

“Post this case, at the unilateral request of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the National Crime Agency (“NCA”) has been appointed to undertake a comprehensive review (including the safety of the convictions) of the Ibori cases and the V Mobile case; to consider whether adequate disclosures were made to the various defendants and to the Crown and Appeal Courts and other possible directions,” he protested.