Get Ibori Dead Or Alive, Jonathan Orders Onovo - I'm Not Guarded By Militants - Ibori
Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has reportedly told Inspector General of Police, Ogbonna Onovo, to produce former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, dead or alive, because he is angry that Oghara youths prevented policemen from arresting Ibori on Tuesday.
In the police team were Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ekpoudom Ekpoudom; Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 6, Muhammed Abubakar; and the Delta State Police Commissioner.
The squad allegedly informed Jonathan that on their way to Oghara, "We sighted a road block mounted by militants, so we had to retreat to avoid bloodbath."
The source added: "When (Jonathan) got the news that Ibori used militants to evade arrest and that policemen had to withdrew to spare avoidable loss of lives, he was very angry and called (Onovo) personally and told him to get Ibori for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dead or alive and banged the phone."
It was also learnt that Onovo immediately called Ekpoudom and told him of the order.
"So what we are planning now is to lay siege to Oghara from the air, land, and water, and smoke out Ibori wherever he may be hiding, otherwise (Onovo) would be in trouble," a source at Force Headquarters added.
Jonathan reportedly wants Ibori in the EFCC net before the end of this week.
"But the police have never arrested anybody for the EFCC, so why is this case different? This fight can always be sorted out amicably without going this far, but we have to do our job," the source lamented.
"The Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Delta region has been put on red alert to be on the look out for Ibori, who is allegedly somewhere in Oghara, his home town.
"Policemen have cordoned off all access roads to the village, but our fear is that what happened in Odi may repeat itself in Oghara, and that would be bad."
Residents of Oghara have started leaving their homes for fear of attack by government troops said to be combat ready.
Frances Tom, a motor mechanic in the town, said in a telephone interview that he has relocated his family to Warri because he fears the face off may degenerate into an inter-tribal war.
About 10 persons allegedly brutalised by policemen who stormed Oghara on Wednesday to arrest Ibori are lying critically ill in hospital in the town.
A team of security personnel, led by Ekpoudom descended on the serene town in seven Hilux pick up vans, and two Expert Peugeot vans, accompanied by two motorcycle riders.
It was learnt that the arrival of the team comprising Army, Navy, and police personnel caused a stir, but the residents were united against the bravado.
Residents accused Jonathan of acting out a script by ordering Onovo to arrest Ibori, in defiance of a court ruling that the status quo be maintained.
Besides, they accused Jonathan of using his office to trample on the fundamental human rights of a citizen, as his directive to Onovo smacks of injustice and is prejudicial.
One of the residents, Ejiro Okpomor, said: "Nowhere in a civilised world would you see what happened here in Oghara, except in a banana republic.
"It is reminiscent of the military era where brute force and official fiat were used to settle scores.
"The matter in question is before a court of competent jurisdiction, yet (Jonathan) ordered security agents to arrest someone. Is it not prejudicial?
"To me, the action is irresponsible. The question therefore is, where is the due process and rule of law that this administration says it is adhering to?"
Okpomor reiterated that the Constitution is very clear on criminal issues; that is, an accused person is presumed innocent until otherwise proven.
"Yet Jonathan has flagrantly set aside this provision and continue to behave like a bull in a china shop.
"As far as I know Edwin Clark is trying to whip up tribal sentiment. It is the same Clark, who benefited immensely from Ibori's government, who has turned around to whip up these spurious allegations.
Also on Wednesday, Ibori's media aide, Tony Eluemunor, condemned the police action and reiterated the call for all parties to respect the rule of law and allow the courts to determine the matter, being the only authority in Nigeria competent to settle disputes between parties.
"The government and indeed all authorities are subject to law and the jurisdiction of the courts to which disputes are constitutionally vested and decided," he said.
Ibori reiterated through Eluemunor in a statement that he neither sponsors nor makes use of militants.
He said State Security Service (SSS) and the EFCC have all been served with the ruling of the Asaba Federal High Court which ruled on Monday that the status quo be maintained.
No militant or any group engaged the security agents in any fight as Oghara people are peace loving and law abiding, Ibori insisted, expressing fears that the falsehood may be an excuse for the security agencies to visit more mayhem on defenceless civilians, especially the children and women of the town.
"Therefore," the statement added, "We categorically refute the unfounded allegation that militants disturbed the policemen who stormed Oghara on April 20, 2010.
"This sort of allegation is on its second life-circle; it would be recalled that when the earlier Ibori versus EFCC case opened in Kaduna in December 2007, the same wild allegation gained currency.
"It was brought up then at the court by the EFCC that was hell-bent on getting the court to deny Ibori bail.
After the Federal High Court, Asaba exonerated Ibori, the EFCC has come up again with yet unnamed charges but ample innuendoes, leading the press to mention billions of Naira worth of bank shares.
"Yet, it is on record that the EFCC has yet to make public the charge it has against Ibori. But what has reoccurred is the allegation about militants.
"This is an archaic repetition that should not be taken seriously by anyone, unless the government is confessing that the amnesty granted to former militants has failed."
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The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) on Wednesday warned against political vendetta by Jonathan, and demanded the investigation of all corrupt former Governors and those named in the Halliburton scandal.
It stressed that the anti-graft crusade should be all-inclusive, especially since corrupt political office holders walk the street as free men.
CNPP Secretary Willy Ezugwu said Nigerians are watching the process and would react appropriately as soon as bias is discovered.
"Interestingly, we have seen parts of the Okiro Report as published in the papers, and now we want the publication of the full report," he demanded.
But Ezugwu admonished the anti-graft agencies to abide by the rule of law in their renewed crusade.
Source;Daily Independent of 21/4/10
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