UK POLICE INTERROGATE IBORI IN DUBAI PRISON

By NBF News

The Serious and Organized Crime Agency of the United Kingdom have interrogated former Delta State Governor James Ibori in his Dubai prison.

According to reports quoting Dubai police source, the interrogation was in preparation for Ibori's money laundering trial in the United Kingdom.

The Metropolitan police interrogation of Ibori is expected to continue throughout his detention in Dubai. Ibori's bail application was last week revoked by the United Arab Emirate after the emirate's police foiled the ex-governor's plot to escape out of Dubai through Iran.

The emirate's police was reported to have overheard Ibori's escape plans after his sister, Christine Ibori-Ibie, and mistress, Udoamaka Okoronkwo (nee Onuigbo), were jailed by the Southwark Crown court in London.

The British interrogators met 'a very humble and apparently scared Ibori.' The source disclosed that the former governor did not offer much resistance when the UK officers sought to speak to him.

Saharareporters quoted a source in London as saying that British police confronted Ibori with fresh allegations of money laundering involving Michael Aondoakaa, Nigeria's immediate former attorney general. Mr. Aondoakaa is reportedly under surveillance and investigation by UK's law enforcement for a range of possible criminal offences.

It is likely Aondoakaa might be arrested on a sweeping arrest warrant anywhere in Europe as soon as the investigation concerning his collaboration with Ibori in money laundering activities is concluded. It is however not confirmed if Ibori squealed on Aondoakaa, but UK authorities are looking at a transaction between the two men that involved $ 44 million that was routed through South Africa. That money is believed frozen by the UK authorities with the help of their South African counterparts.

Ibori is facing extradition to the UK to face extensive money laundering charges. It is confirmed that UK authorities have hand-delivered their extradition case filings last week. The hearing is expected to commence soon. Dubai authorities refused EFCC officials who had swarmed Dubai reportedly in search of Ibori's extradition back to Nigeria access to the detained former governor. 'The Nigerians were not allowed to see or interrogate Mr. Ibori in Dubai, because we do not any extradition treaty with Nigeria,' said one source.

Law enforcement sources in London said they expected Ibori's petition for asylum in Dubai 'to collapse quickly,' adding that the UK police has high hopes of getting the former governor who is also a British citizen to be repatriated to the UK to face trial.