October 23, 2007
Saharareporters, New York: A ministerial nominee, Elder Godsay Orubebe, who had earlier been screened and cleared by the National Assembly was not sworn in today as expected. His swearing -in was delayed by Yar'adua as he swore in four others who passed Senate screening last week.
The sudden stoppage of Elder Orubebe's swearing-in was attributed to the return of James Ibori to Nigeria last week Thursday. Sources told Saharareporters since returning to Nigeria last week Thursday after fleeing to the US, James Ibori's first act was to force Yar'adua not to appoint Elder Orubebe as minister.
Orubebe nomination was vehemently opposed by the Delta State government and the state chapter of the PDP but was favored by lawmakers from the South South region.
In March 2007, Elder Godsay Orubebe and two others had applied to a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order of mandamus compelling the EFCC to prosecute James Onafefe Ibori for corruption and money laundering, they accused the former governor of Delta State of diverting and embezzling close to N200 billion through bogus budgets siphoned from the state by way of supplementary budgets to personal accounts, projects and sources in Nigeria and abroad.
James ibori was sighted in Abuja today and some key sources said he met with Yar'adua to ensure that Orubebe was not sworn in alongside other ministerial nominees.
James Ibori is currently facing large scale investigations for embezzlement, corruption and money laundering by local and international anti-corruption agencies. As frequently reported by Saharareporters, James Ibori's influence on Yar'adua stems from large campaign donations he made towards the election of Umar Yar'adua the current occupier of Aso Rock.
Despite public denials to that effect, James Ibori enjoys uninhibited access to the presidency where he is seen as a member of Yar'adua's "Kitchen Cabinet".
His assets worldwide assets are currently frozen by a London High Court while Scotland Yard detectives of the Metropolitan Police in London continue investigations inside of Nigeria to collect further evidence of money laundering against the former governor.
In another development, the Supreme Court is now set deliver a final judgment on the governorship elections in Rivers State, a source told Saharareporters that a stunning judgment awaits Celestine Omehia, the current governor of Rivers State tomorrow at the Supreme Court, he won't elaborate further.
The sudden stoppage of Elder Orubebe's swearing-in was attributed to the return of James Ibori to Nigeria last week Thursday. Sources told Saharareporters since returning to Nigeria last week Thursday after fleeing to the US, James Ibori's first act was to force Yar'adua not to appoint Elder Orubebe as minister.
Orubebe nomination was vehemently opposed by the Delta State government and the state chapter of the PDP but was favored by lawmakers from the South South region.
In March 2007, Elder Godsay Orubebe and two others had applied to a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order of mandamus compelling the EFCC to prosecute James Onafefe Ibori for corruption and money laundering, they accused the former governor of Delta State of diverting and embezzling close to N200 billion through bogus budgets siphoned from the state by way of supplementary budgets to personal accounts, projects and sources in Nigeria and abroad.
James ibori was sighted in Abuja today and some key sources said he met with Yar'adua to ensure that Orubebe was not sworn in alongside other ministerial nominees.
James Ibori is currently facing large scale investigations for embezzlement, corruption and money laundering by local and international anti-corruption agencies. As frequently reported by Saharareporters, James Ibori's influence on Yar'adua stems from large campaign donations he made towards the election of Umar Yar'adua the current occupier of Aso Rock.
Despite public denials to that effect, James Ibori enjoys uninhibited access to the presidency where he is seen as a member of Yar'adua's "Kitchen Cabinet".
His assets worldwide assets are currently frozen by a London High Court while Scotland Yard detectives of the Metropolitan Police in London continue investigations inside of Nigeria to collect further evidence of money laundering against the former governor.
In another development, the Supreme Court is now set deliver a final judgment on the governorship elections in Rivers State, a source told Saharareporters that a stunning judgment awaits Celestine Omehia, the current governor of Rivers State tomorrow at the Supreme Court, he won't elaborate further.
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