Teaching Comparative Government and Politics

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

New president, new anti-corruption efforts or political payback?

Two developments in the campaign against corruption can be seen as progress or more politics as usual.

Ogbulafor Resigns

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor has resigned from office.

The resignation… came on the heels of growing pressure mounted on him to vacate office over his ongoing prosecution by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) for allegedly embezzling N104million while he served as a minister…

'How Ibori Was Arrested, Granted Bail in Dubai'

Former Governor of Delta State Chief James Ibori who was arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday was yesterday granted bail.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), however, said it is working closely with the London Metropolitan Police (Met) and Interpol to ensure the extradition of Ibori…

The EFCC had last month declared Ibori wanted after weeks of failed efforts to get him to honour the commission's invitation over fresh fraud allegations including a N44 billion scam.

The anti-graft agency had earlier secured a court warrant for his arrest and equally put him on a watch list.
Chairman of the EFCC Mrs. Farida Waziri said his arrest might not be unconnected with the search for him by Nigerian security agencies and an international warrant of arrest issued against him by the Met Police...

The former governor was first arrested by the EFCC under former Chairman Nuhu Ribadu on December 12, 2007 for alleged corruption and money laundering while in office.

He was later arraigned at the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna on a 103-count charge all bordering on concealment and money laundering. The EFCC later slammed another 26-count charge against him.

Ibori was initially denied bail and spent the Christmas of 2007 and New Year eve of 2008 in detention.

However, the former governor was later granted bail.

Following an application by his lawyer for the transfer of the case to Delta State where the alleged offences were committed, the case was transferred to the Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State.

Justice Marcel Awokulehin of the court on November 29, 2009, cleared Ibori of all charges of fraud and money laundering preferred against him by the EFCC.