EFCC, Metropolitan Police begin investigating governors, ministers, others

WITH less than six months to the end of the current democratic administration, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has begun investigations into the financial activities of some serving governors and ministers, with the intent to bringing them to book on suspected frauds.

Already, the commission has put the Metropolitan Police of London, and other security agencies around the world on alert regarding the officials who may attempt to escape the country.

Briefing reporters Monday in Abuja, chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde; and Detective Chief Inspector, Jonathan Benson, of the Metropolitan Police stated their resolve to collaborate on investigations into the activities of the noted officials as they did in the past, in the cases that involved James Ibori and pardoned DSP Alamieyeseigha among others.

According to Lamorde, the EFCC has a lot of on-going investigations being conducted with the Metropolitan Police. He informed that while Britain will shortly begin the return of some confiscated assets to Nigeria, the confiscation proceedings on the assets of James Ibori will soon begin.

Other officials currently under investigation according to Lamorde are former Heads of Service, and some National Assembly members. He however warned that some of the investigations may take time, citing the case of Ibori which investigation began in 2004 but was arrested in 2011. He noted that it is not proper to arrest a suspect until investigations are concluded and the agency is ready to go to court with evidence. He explained that when a suspect is arrested as soon as investigation begins, “you alert the suspect”.

“We have had a very robust relationship with Metropolitan Police dating over 10 years.  Mr. Benson has come with his team and we are here to review our activities over the years and the current activities we are working on. We have a lot on ongoing investigations that we have been doing together. We need to review those cases and see how we move them forward.”

“The Metropolitan Police’s Proceeds of Corruption unit assisted us in the case of DSP Alameyeiseigha, Joshua Dariye, and of course the big one that everybody is aware of, James Ibori who is serving a jail term in the United Kingdom. In a few months, there is also going to be a confiscation proceeding in respect of the assets of James Ibori in the United Kingdom, which we’ve been working assiduously to make sure that when the proceeding come up it will be successful”.