Alleged $15m Ibori-Ribadu Bribe: Court Orders IGP To Investigate Uba, Achigbu
ABUJA, September 11, (THEWILL) - Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar has been ordered to carry out criminal investigations against Chief Andy Uba and Chief Chibuike Achigbu over the $15m bribe allegedly given to Mallam Nuhu Ribadua, erstwhile chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), by onetime governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori.
An Abuja Chief Magistrate Court gave the order on Tuesday, based on a Direct Criminal Complaint filed in the court by Mr. Festus Keyamo against Andy Uba and Chibuike Achigbu, accusing them of conspiracy, abetment and bribery in relation to the controversial bribe.
In addition to the order, Chief Magistrate Okagu, sitting at Wuse Zone 6, ordered the IGP to report his findings to the court on 26th September 2012.
Achigbu had filed an application claiming that the $15m belonged to him, only to shockingly turn around to file another application, within 48hours, at the Federal High Court to discontinue the case.
Achigbu had said that he gave the money to Dr. Andy Uba, an aide to then president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, to finance the Peoples Democratic Party’s campaign in the 2007 general elections. He claimed to have transferred the fund to Andy Uba for onward delivery to the EFCC to investigate and certify that it was raised honestly, only for Uba to advise him to deliver the fund to him (Uba) for onward transmission to relevant agencies.
“Uba, in a telephone conversation sometimes in the early part of the year 2008, confirmed that, as agreed, he did invite the EFCC to take custody of the purported unclaimed fund and revert on their investigations about its suitability for the purpose that the fund was intended,” Achigbu said.
The Court had ordered that the temporary forfeiture of the money to the Federal Government if within 14 days after the publication of an advertorial pertaining to the interim order, no one came forward to claim ownership of the money.
The Delta State Government has also asked the Federal Government for rights to take possession of the controversial money, after an application by its attorney general and commissioner for justice, Mr. Charles Ajuyah (SAN).
In his letter to the IGP on the court order, Kenyamo wrote, “Please find attached, an order of the Chief Magistrate court, sitting in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, directing you to investigate the complaints contained in the Direct Criminal Complaint, filed by myself, against one Andy Uba and Chibuike Achigbu.
“As you can see, the said order was made on 10th September 2012 and you are expected to report to the court with your findings on this matter on the 26th September 2012. As a result, time is of the essence in this investigation.
“I only need to add that in conducting your investigation, I urge you to be upright, fearless, unbiased and to do your job according to the dictates of your conscience and the oath of your office, no matter whose ox is gored in the process. The heavens will not fall. Thank you.”