Jun.20, 2010, 06:27, Source: Sahara reporters

Saharareporters has learned that key members of the Serious and Organized Crime Agency of the UK have interrogated former Governor James Ibori in his Dubai prison. Our Dubai police source disclosed that the interrogation was in preparation for Ibori’s money laundering trial in the United Kingdom.

The source also revealed that the Met’s 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. Our source revealed that the emirate’s police 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.

Our source in Dubai said 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.

Ibori’s meek mien sharply contrasts his belligerent stance when officials of the Nigerian police and agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had tried to arrest him in his hometown of Oghara. After Ibori’s heavily armed protectors held off the Nigerian agents, the ex-governor fled to Dubai where it took the diligence of British law enforcement to track him down.

A source in London told Saharareporters 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.

A source told Saharareporters that 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.

Our source in Dubai was unable to confirm if Ibori squealed on Aondoakaa, but our sources in the UK said the authorities there 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. Our Dubai source said the UK authorities have hand-delivered   their extradition case filings last week. The hearing is expected to commence soon.

Our sources reported that 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.

After the recent jailing of Ms. Ibori-Ibie and Ms. Okoronkwo (nee Onuigbo), the Crown Prosecution Service has commenced the trial of Ibori’s wife, Theresa Nkoyo Ibori, and one of his lawyers, Bhadresh Gohil.  The trial was adjourned last Friday to enable the court decide on a fresh application on Monday regarding Mr. Gohil’s renewed application for a separate trial.