THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday tabled before the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, details of how jailed former Governor James Ibori of Delta State and the embattled chairman of Bi-Courtney Highway Services, Dr Wale Babalakin allegedly used inflated N8.9 billion contracts to launder the state funds to the United Kingdom.
The contracts which were said to be three in all, including the proposed building of a stadium in Asaba, Delta State were allegedly inflated by N1.356 billion which Babalakin allegedly helped Ibori to launder to the United Kingdom through a special account in the UK, being reportedly operated by equally jailed Ibori’s English lawyer, Bhadresh Babulal Gohil.
UK courts had jailed Gohil, Ibori, his wife, Theresa and mistress, Uzoamaka Okoronkwo-Onuigbo over the alleged money laundering.
Gohil who reportedly confessed to maintaining the said special money laundering account, bagged five years imprisonment.
The anti-corruption commission is now asking the Nigerian court to also try Babalakin for the same offence for which the quartet were jailed in the U.K, by slamming a 20-count charge on him and three others.
The charge, filed by EFCC’s lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs SAN, was deposited at about 3pm at the court’s registry yesterday.
Spokesman for the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwajaren, told the Nigerian Tribune in a telephone interview that the commission had filed charges against Babalakin in Lagos.
“It is true we filed a 27-count charge against him today (Wednesday),” he said.
The suit was yet to be assigned.
The prosecution alleged in the charge that between 1999 and 2007 when Ibori was the governor of the state, Babalakin served as his conduit-pipe for money laundering on the pretext of executing major contracts for the state government.
It was further alleged that Babalakin used five dedicated companies and 12 cheques to launder N1.356 billion, with the commission charging him for allegedly paying bribes and serving as a money laundering courier.
It was also alleged that Ibori gave Babalakin a special account in London, where he paid in the 12 cheques he issued in the names of the said companies.
The bubble, according to the commission, allegedly burst for the accused and Ibori when the laundered sum was converted to $23 million dollar and an attempt was made to use it in buying a Chandelier Bombardier private jet for Ibori.
The UK government reportedly moved in at this point and seized the money, making the planned acquisition impossible.
Those charged with Babalakin included Bi-Courtney and Alex Okon.
The prosecution further alleged that most of the materials to be used for the construction of the controversial stadium were allegedly subcontracted to a company owned by Ibori while the proposed stadium was also allegedly never built but the full contract sum released.
It was learnt that the commission might effect his arrest once the case is assigned to a trial judge.
The commission, last February, arrested and released Babalakin over allegations that he helped Ibori to launder the money used in the aborted plan to buy a private jet.
Spokesperson for Bi-Courtney, which is owned by Babalakin, Mr Dipo Kehinde speaking with Nigerian Tribune yesterday night said there was nothing like that.
He advised that “we all wait till today (Thursday) and let the court reporters do their work if its indeed true.”
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