November 29, 2007
Saharareporters, New York
Dateline: London, Nov. 30, 2007
British legal authorities say they are appalled by the
attitude of Nigeria’s Attorney Attorney Michael
Aondoakaa who appears set to sabotage the prosecution
of former Governor James Onanefe Ibori as well as
other top Nigerian officials being investigated for
money laundering activities in England.
Mr. Aondoakaa has been uncooperative to recent
requests by the British urging him to sign the Mutual
Legal Assistance Agreement between Nigeria and the
U.K. Demurring to a request in the Ibori case, Mr.
Aondoakaa contended that the British request was not
properly originated, claiming that the agreement
provides that the Secretary of State for the Home
Department must be the signatory.
Puzzled British officials told saharareporters that
Mr. Aondoakaa’s contention is nothing short of
bizarre—and a hypocritical departure from established
norm.
“Under the terms of the Agreement, requests for
assistance are to be made by the Central Authorities
for each party,” a British official told us. “For the
UK, that Central Authority is the Secretary of State
(SoS) for the Home Department. Now, Mr. Aondoakaa
knows that U.K. domestic legislation designates
certain prosecuting authorities to issue letters of
request for mutual legal assistance to another state.
The Director of Public Prosecutions and any Crown
Prosecutor are designated prosecuting authorities.
Accordingly, they are authorized to make a request for
mutual legal assistance.”
According to our sources, a request made by a Crown
Prosecutor is sent to the Secretary of State, who has
discretion whether or not to transmit the request.
“In effect what it means is that David Williams, a
crown prosecutor, and Ken MacDonald, the DPP, are
make the request. And Mr. Andoakaa knows this fullu003cbr />well,” argued our British sources.u003cbr />u003cbr />They revealed that eight formal requests foru003cbr />assistance had been sent to Nigeria in respect ofu003cbr />extant proceedings conducted by the Fraud Prosecutionu003cbr />Service and Organized Crime Division of the Crownu003cbr />Prosecution Service. All the requests wereu003cbr />executed—with the exception of two: the Ibori requestu003cbr />and a subsequent request relating to a differentu003cbr />suspect.u003cbr />u003cbr />“The fact is that all requests made before Aondoakaau003cbr />was appointed as AG got the appropriate response. It’su003cbr />only the two made since July that have been stalled byu003cbr />Mr. Aondoakaa,” said one of our sources. “It’su003cbr />troubling because Mr. Aondoakaa knows that his postureu003cbr />is untenable. And he is sending a signal,u003cbr />unfortunately, that his mandate is to protect topu003cbr />public officials who may have made away with millionsu003cbr />of pounds sterling of public funds.”u003cbr />u003cbr />In another development, Mr. Aondoakaa recentlyu003cbr />exhibited irate behavior in the presence of anu003cbr />international reporter who was scheduled to interviewu003cbr />him.u003cbr />u003cbr />On Thursday Nov 22, the AGF’s press secretary hadu003cbr />ushered in a radio journalist for a scheduledu003cbr />interview with Mr. Aondoakaa. According to our source,u003cbr />the AGF was fully aware of the interview, and had inu003cbr />fact authorized his press secretary to usher in theu003cbr />reporter.u003cbr />u003cbr />As the reporter entered the room, where there wereu003cbr />several other people, the AGF’s mood suddenly changedu003cbr />into a fiery temper. He turned to his press aide andu003cbr />began shouting, “Are you mad? Are you mad? How canu003cbr />you bring a journalist in here?”u003cbr />u003cbr />In shock, the reporter apologized and leftu003cbr />immediately, trailed by the AGF’s press secretary whou003cbr />was unable to understand his boss’s inexplicable fury.u003cbr />u003c/div>",1] ); //--> authorized, on behalf of the Secretary of State, to
make the request. And Mr. Andoakaa knows this full
well,” argued our British sources.
They revealed that eight formal requests for
assistance had been sent to Nigeria in respect of
extant proceedings conducted by the Fraud Prosecution
Service and Organized Crime Division of the Crown
Prosecution Service. All the requests were
executed—with the exception of two: the Ibori request
and a subsequent request relating to a different
suspect.
“The fact is that all requests made before Aondoakaa
was appointed as AG got the appropriate response. It’s
only the two made since July that have been stalled by
Mr. Aondoakaa,” said one of our sources. “It’s
troubling because Mr. Aondoakaa knows that his posture
is untenable. And he is sending a signal,
unfortunately, that his mandate is to protect top
public officials who may have made away with millions
of pounds sterling of public funds.”
In another development, Mr. Aondoakaa recently
exhibited irate behavior in the presence of an
international reporter who was scheduled to interview
him.
On Thursday Nov 22, the AGF’s press secretary had
ushered in a radio journalist for a scheduled
interview with Mr. Aondoakaa. According to our source,
the AGF was fully aware of the interview, and had in
fact authorized his press secretary to usher in the
reporter.
As the reporter entered the room, where there were
several other people, the AGF’s mood suddenly changed
into a fiery temper. He turned to his press aide and
began shouting, “Are you mad? Are you mad? How can
you bring a journalist in here?”
In shock, the reporter apologized and left
immediately, trailed by the AGF’s press secretary who
was unable to understand his boss’s inexplicable fury.
Dateline: London, Nov. 30, 2007
British legal authorities say they are appalled by the
attitude of Nigeria’s Attorney Attorney Michael
Aondoakaa who appears set to sabotage the prosecution
of former Governor James Onanefe Ibori as well as
other top Nigerian officials being investigated for
money laundering activities in England.
Mr. Aondoakaa has been uncooperative to recent
requests by the British urging him to sign the Mutual
Legal Assistance Agreement between Nigeria and the
U.K. Demurring to a request in the Ibori case, Mr.
Aondoakaa contended that the British request was not
properly originated, claiming that the agreement
provides that the Secretary of State for the Home
Department must be the signatory.
Puzzled British officials told saharareporters that
Mr. Aondoakaa’s contention is nothing short of
bizarre—and a hypocritical departure from established
norm.
“Under the terms of the Agreement, requests for
assistance are to be made by the Central Authorities
for each party,” a British official told us. “For the
UK, that Central Authority is the Secretary of State
(SoS) for the Home Department. Now, Mr. Aondoakaa
knows that U.K. domestic legislation designates
certain prosecuting authorities to issue letters of
request for mutual legal assistance to another state.
The Director of Public Prosecutions and any Crown
Prosecutor are designated prosecuting authorities.
Accordingly, they are authorized to make a request for
mutual legal assistance.”
According to our sources, a request made by a Crown
Prosecutor is sent to the Secretary of State, who has
discretion whether or not to transmit the request.
“In effect what it means is that David Williams, a
crown prosecutor, and Ken MacDonald, the DPP, are
make the request. And Mr. Andoakaa knows this fullu003cbr />well,” argued our British sources.u003cbr />u003cbr />They revealed that eight formal requests foru003cbr />assistance had been sent to Nigeria in respect ofu003cbr />extant proceedings conducted by the Fraud Prosecutionu003cbr />Service and Organized Crime Division of the Crownu003cbr />Prosecution Service. All the requests wereu003cbr />executed—with the exception of two: the Ibori requestu003cbr />and a subsequent request relating to a differentu003cbr />suspect.u003cbr />u003cbr />“The fact is that all requests made before Aondoakaau003cbr />was appointed as AG got the appropriate response. It’su003cbr />only the two made since July that have been stalled byu003cbr />Mr. Aondoakaa,” said one of our sources. “It’su003cbr />troubling because Mr. Aondoakaa knows that his postureu003cbr />is untenable. And he is sending a signal,u003cbr />unfortunately, that his mandate is to protect topu003cbr />public officials who may have made away with millionsu003cbr />of pounds sterling of public funds.”u003cbr />u003cbr />In another development, Mr. Aondoakaa recentlyu003cbr />exhibited irate behavior in the presence of anu003cbr />international reporter who was scheduled to interviewu003cbr />him.u003cbr />u003cbr />On Thursday Nov 22, the AGF’s press secretary hadu003cbr />ushered in a radio journalist for a scheduledu003cbr />interview with Mr. Aondoakaa. According to our source,u003cbr />the AGF was fully aware of the interview, and had inu003cbr />fact authorized his press secretary to usher in theu003cbr />reporter.u003cbr />u003cbr />As the reporter entered the room, where there wereu003cbr />several other people, the AGF’s mood suddenly changedu003cbr />into a fiery temper. He turned to his press aide andu003cbr />began shouting, “Are you mad? Are you mad? How canu003cbr />you bring a journalist in here?”u003cbr />u003cbr />In shock, the reporter apologized and leftu003cbr />immediately, trailed by the AGF’s press secretary whou003cbr />was unable to understand his boss’s inexplicable fury.u003cbr />u003c/div>",1] ); //--> authorized, on behalf of the Secretary of State, to
make the request. And Mr. Andoakaa knows this full
well,” argued our British sources.
They revealed that eight formal requests for
assistance had been sent to Nigeria in respect of
extant proceedings conducted by the Fraud Prosecution
Service and Organized Crime Division of the Crown
Prosecution Service. All the requests were
executed—with the exception of two: the Ibori request
and a subsequent request relating to a different
suspect.
“The fact is that all requests made before Aondoakaa
was appointed as AG got the appropriate response. It’s
only the two made since July that have been stalled by
Mr. Aondoakaa,” said one of our sources. “It’s
troubling because Mr. Aondoakaa knows that his posture
is untenable. And he is sending a signal,
unfortunately, that his mandate is to protect top
public officials who may have made away with millions
of pounds sterling of public funds.”
In another development, Mr. Aondoakaa recently
exhibited irate behavior in the presence of an
international reporter who was scheduled to interview
him.
On Thursday Nov 22, the AGF’s press secretary had
ushered in a radio journalist for a scheduled
interview with Mr. Aondoakaa. According to our source,
the AGF was fully aware of the interview, and had in
fact authorized his press secretary to usher in the
reporter.
As the reporter entered the room, where there were
several other people, the AGF’s mood suddenly changed
into a fiery temper. He turned to his press aide and
began shouting, “Are you mad? Are you mad? How can
you bring a journalist in here?”
In shock, the reporter apologized and left
immediately, trailed by the AGF’s press secretary who
was unable to understand his boss’s inexplicable fury.
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