The
Federal Government on Friday toldSUNDAY PUNCH that it would not extradite a
former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, to the United
Kingdom to face money laundering charges.
Federal Government on Friday toldSUNDAY PUNCH that it would not extradite a
former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, to the United
Kingdom to face money laundering charges.
While reacting to a statement by the British High
Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Pocock, the FG accused the envoy of challenging
the sovereignty of the country.
Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Pocock, the FG accused the envoy of challenging
the sovereignty of the country.
The President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration stated that
it was not willing to extradite Alamieyeseigha because the British government
did not go through ‘appropriate channels.’
it was not willing to extradite Alamieyeseigha because the British government
did not go through ‘appropriate channels.’
An highly-placed government official who pleaded anonymity
because he was not authorised to speak on the matter said, “The UK cannot
dictate to us. The government is not willing to extradite the former governor
because of what they (UK) are saying on the pages of newspapers.”
because he was not authorised to speak on the matter said, “The UK cannot
dictate to us. The government is not willing to extradite the former governor
because of what they (UK) are saying on the pages of newspapers.”
Also, SUNDAY
PUNCH learnt that the UK
request to extradite Alamieyeseigha predated President Goodluck Jonathan
administration.
PUNCH learnt that the UK
request to extradite Alamieyeseigha predated President Goodluck Jonathan
administration.
Pocock was reported on Thursday to have said Alamieyeseigha, who
recently got state pardon for his criminal conviction in Nigeria, still has an
outstanding case of money laundering to answer to in the UK.
recently got state pardon for his criminal conviction in Nigeria, still has an
outstanding case of money laundering to answer to in the UK.
He said the UK government would not give up until Alamieyeseigha
was brought to justice.
was brought to justice.
According to the envoy, the UK had asked the
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice for Alamieyeseigha’s extradition and
was still awaiting his position on the issue when Jonathan announced the state
pardon.
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice for Alamieyeseigha’s extradition and
was still awaiting his position on the issue when Jonathan announced the state
pardon.
He had said, “The former governor skipped bail in the UK on a
charge of money laundering and returned to Nigeria. So, he has an outstanding
charge in the UK, which is there for him to answer.
charge of money laundering and returned to Nigeria. So, he has an outstanding
charge in the UK, which is there for him to answer.
“We have already discussed it and the Nigerian government knows
our views. But we would like to see him return and answer charge in the UK.
our views. But we would like to see him return and answer charge in the UK.
“I am very sure we asked in the past. But I am not sure we got a
formal response. So, we are still waiting for a formal response from the
Nigerian government.”
formal response. So, we are still waiting for a formal response from the
Nigerian government.”
But a government spokesperson, who pleaded anonymity, told our
correspondent that the request which Pocock talked about was an old one that
was made shortly after the former governor returned to Nigeria.
correspondent that the request which Pocock talked about was an old one that
was made shortly after the former governor returned to Nigeria.
When asked why the present administration refused to take action
on an old request, he said, “The request is an old one. It was not made under
this administration, you can check the date. The request predates this
administration.
on an old request, he said, “The request is an old one. It was not made under
this administration, you can check the date. The request predates this
administration.
“I am sure the request must have been made in 2005/2006 when the
events happened. That surely was before the inception of this administration.
events happened. That surely was before the inception of this administration.
“In any case, it is inappropriate for the envoy to be addressing
issues such as this on the pages of newspapers. There are established
diplomatic channels to address such issues because diplomacy has its own rules.
issues such as this on the pages of newspapers. There are established
diplomatic channels to address such issues because diplomacy has its own rules.
“What is expected of a foreign diplomat in another country is to
go through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if he has such an observation to
make.
go through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if he has such an observation to
make.
“A diplomat is not expected to behave in a manner suggesting
that he is interfering in the internal affairs of his host country. Diplomacy
on the pages of newspapers is odd, it is almost like joining a protest
movement.
that he is interfering in the internal affairs of his host country. Diplomacy
on the pages of newspapers is odd, it is almost like joining a protest
movement.
“He is expected to go through the proper diplomatic channels.
Reacting on the pages of newspapers amount to challenging the sovereignty of
the country and meddlesomeness in the affairs of the country.
Reacting on the pages of newspapers amount to challenging the sovereignty of
the country and meddlesomeness in the affairs of the country.
“The action also amounts to carrying placards and joining
protest against the host country.”
protest against the host country.”
When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister of
Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Ambrose Momoh, said he was
not aware of the UK request.
Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Ambrose Momoh, said he was
not aware of the UK request.
Momoh also said the minister, Mohammed Adoke, was not in town,
and as a result, he could not immediately reach the AGF to get his (AGF’s)
official position on the matter.
and as a result, he could not immediately reach the AGF to get his (AGF’s)
official position on the matter.
Similarly, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Mr. Ogbole Ahmedu-Ode, said he was not aware of the request.
Mr. Ogbole Ahmedu-Ode, said he was not aware of the request.
“All I can tell you is that normally, such request is routed
through the foreign affairs ministry.
through the foreign affairs ministry.
“All communication between foreign missions accredited to the
country is through the ministry. For example, if an ambassador wants to visit
the president or any minister, he writes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for
clearance. The same thing applies to correspondence.
country is through the ministry. For example, if an ambassador wants to visit
the president or any minister, he writes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for
clearance. The same thing applies to correspondence.
“Anything short of this is a breach of diplomatic
procedure,” he added.
procedure,” he added.
Meanwhile, the National Publicity Secretary, Action Congress of
Nigeria, Lai Mohammed, has warned the Federal Government against endangering
its ties with other countries. He said Nigeria might be ostracised in the
comity of nations if government did so.
Nigeria, Lai Mohammed, has warned the Federal Government against endangering
its ties with other countries. He said Nigeria might be ostracised in the
comity of nations if government did so.
Mohammed said, “We live in a global world and there’s
inter-relationship between countries. Without commenting on the rightness or
wrongness of the recent pardon of Alamieyeseigha, we warn the government not to
jeopardise the interest of Nigerians because of any man.
inter-relationship between countries. Without commenting on the rightness or
wrongness of the recent pardon of Alamieyeseigha, we warn the government not to
jeopardise the interest of Nigerians because of any man.
“There is supposed to be cooperation among various countries on
issues such as terrorism, money laundering, drug trafficking, etc. To that
extent, the government is not correct to say that the UK demand is an attempt
to meddle in the internal affairs of the country.”
issues such as terrorism, money laundering, drug trafficking, etc. To that
extent, the government is not correct to say that the UK demand is an attempt
to meddle in the internal affairs of the country.”
Also, the National Publicity Secretary, Congress for Progressive
Change, Rotimi Fashakin, said Jonathan would be playing with fire, if he
attempted to shield Alamieyeseigha.
Change, Rotimi Fashakin, said Jonathan would be playing with fire, if he
attempted to shield Alamieyeseigha.
He argued that Alamieyeseigha committed an offence in Britain
and jumped bail to avoid prosecution.
and jumped bail to avoid prosecution.
He said, “It is within international law; Nigeria is a signatory
to an international treaty. It is not about Britain meddling in Nigeria’s internal
affairs, no. The UK has the right under a known international law to request
that Nigeria extradites him. The judicial process of his trial has not been
concluded.”
to an international treaty. It is not about Britain meddling in Nigeria’s internal
affairs, no. The UK has the right under a known international law to request
that Nigeria extradites him. The judicial process of his trial has not been
concluded.”
Similarly, the Executive Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt
Leaders, Debo Adeniran, said the Nigerian government shields corrupt leaders.
Leaders, Debo Adeniran, said the Nigerian government shields corrupt leaders.
He said, “President Jonathan had declared that Alamieyeseigha is
his benefactor. So, he has to protect him by all means.
his benefactor. So, he has to protect him by all means.
“Nigeria has not been respecting the Mutual Legal Assistance
Treaty it signed with the UK. That is why it could not give enough evidence
against James Ibori, when the UK requested Nigeria to confirm that he was
wanted for criminal activities. The Nigerian government is practically and
openly protecting corrupt leaders.”
Treaty it signed with the UK. That is why it could not give enough evidence
against James Ibori, when the UK requested Nigeria to confirm that he was
wanted for criminal activities. The Nigerian government is practically and
openly protecting corrupt leaders.”
Alamieyeseigha, then a serving governor, escaped from the
custody of the British authorities when he fled back to Nigeria in September,
2005.
custody of the British authorities when he fled back to Nigeria in September,
2005.
The pardon granted Alamieyeseigha by Jonathan had also led to a
diplomatic row between Nigeria and the United States with the latter
threatening to sanction Nigeria for Jonathan’s action.
diplomatic row between Nigeria and the United States with the latter
threatening to sanction Nigeria for Jonathan’s action.
Source: Punch
