British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Pocock has called for the extradition of former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, to London.
Pocock said Alamieyeseigha, who was pardoned by former President Goodlcuk Jonathan, has an outstanding case of money laundering to answer in the UK and that the UK government will not give up until Alamieyeseigha is brought to justice; PUNCH reports.
”The former governor skipped bail in the UK on a charge of money laundering and returned to Nigeria. So, he has an outstanding charge in the UK, which is there for him to answer.
”We have already discussed it and the Nigerian government knows our views. But we would like to see him return and answer the charge in the UK”,Pocock said.
Diepreye Alamieyeseigha’s case appeared concluded, when the former President Goodluck Jonathan granted him state pardon, but the British government seems determined to resurrect the case.
Reports have it that they a formal request for extradition of the former governor to London has been made to the Nigerian government because the British government insists that the former governor has an outstanding case in the United Kingdom on money laundering, which is there for him to answer.
Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption, Professor Itse Sagay, was quoted as saying that the Muhammadu Buhari-led government was prepared to assent to the request of the British government.
He said the United Kingdom had every legal right to demand for the extradition of the former Bayelsa State governor.
“The UK is in principle correct to be making such a request, based on the fact that the crime was committed on the British soil. However, when there is delay in trial as a result of time, there may be consideration on legal grounds, so that the trial is not seen as oppressive,” he said.
Alamieyeseigha, who was facing money laundering charges, jumped bail and returned to Nigeria and had since then refused to answer summons for trial to continue.
