The Petition That Nailed Alamieyeseigha
Date: 13
July, 2005
The Chairman,
Economic And Financial Crimes Commission,
Plot 1017 And 1018 Coree Bay Crescent,
Off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent,
Wuse II,
PMB 166,
F.C.T, Abuja.
Sir,
Re: Complaint Of Money Laundering Against Chief Abel Ebifemowei, Mrs.
Preye Joy Ereboh (Nee Alamieyeseigha) Mr. Enetonbrapa Alamieyeseigha,
Seleake Alamieyeseigha, Miss Embeleakpo Alamieyeseigha, Honourable Ereboh,
And Chief Mrs. Margaret Alamieyeseigha
REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION
1. Messrs Ebika Ebikeseiye, Enoch Dimieye, And Gibson Ibe who are indigenes
of Bayelsa State of Nigeria and the president, secretary and operations
officer respectively of the Coalition Against Corruption with its office at
Opolo –Yenagoa Bayelsa State of Nigeria hereinafter referred to as our
clients have retained our professional services as solicitors and have
passed firm and definite instructions to us to petition your esteemed office
to lodge a complaint of money laundering against Chief Abel Ebifemowei, Mrs.
Preye Joy Ereboh (Nee Alamieyeseigha, Seleake Alamieyeseigha, Miss.
Embelakpo Alamieyeseigha, Hon. Ereboh and Chief Mrs. Margaret Alamieyeseigha
and to passionately request you to use your good offices to carry out a
full-scale investigation of their complaint.
2. Our clients informed us that in earnest and patriotic response to the
clarion call on all Nigerians by Mr. President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to
partner with his administration to frontally fight against corruption and
all economic crimes in all ramifications in all facets of our national life,
they carried out private investigations into the widespread allegations of
corruption and money laundering by close relations and children and of their
State Governor Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. Their findings are mind
boggling revelations of money – laundering by Chief Abel Ebifemowei, a
cousin and a special Adviser of the Governor, Mrs. Preye Joy Ereboh first
daughter of the Governor, married to the majority leader of the Bayelsa
State House of Assembly, Hon Ereboh and three other children of the State
Governor whose names are Mr. Enetonbrapa Alamieyeseigha, Mrs. Seleake
Alamieyeseigha. The findings also reveal that Chief Mrs. Margaret
Alamieyeseigha and her son-in-law, Hon Ereboh facilitated all the money
laundering activities of her children.
3. The details of our client's findings in respect of each of the
above-mentioned persons in three commercial banks in Yenagoa are set out in
the schedule annexed to this letter while extracts of bank statements
showing the details of the lodgments in the accounts complained of in
Yenagoa branches of Prudent Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, and Zenith
Bank Plc are annexed and marked as Annexures "BB" "CC" and "DD"
respectively. The highlights of the money laundering transactions are as
follows: -
(a) Chief Abel Ebifemowei, to our clients' knowledge lodged and/or
transferred a total of:
(i) 1,043,655.79 USD
(ii) 173,365.41 GBP
(iii) N556,455,893.34 (Five hundred and fifty five million, four hundred and
fifty five thousand eight hundred and ninety three Naira thirty four kobo)
between 3/10.2001 and 31/5/2005 in three banks in Yenagoa.
It is pertinent to state that until sometime in August 2003, when he was
appointed a special adviser to the Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Abel
Ebifemowei was a transport officer in the civil service of Bayelsa State of
Nigeria. Our clients further maintain that they are also aware that Chief
Abel Ebifemowei operates several high profile accounts in his personal name
and in the corporate names of EDUBAMO Ventures, Mowei Communications and
Ebilayefa Resources Ltd in Standard Trust Bank Plc (STB), Guaranty Trust
Bank Plc (GTB) and Prudent Bank Plc.
(b) That three of the children of Chief Alamieyeseigha namely Mr.
Enetonbrapa Alamieyeseigha, Mr. Seleake Alamieyeseigha and Miss Embelakpo
Alamieyeseigha paid into their accounts in Guaranty Trust Bank, Yenagoa
Branch a total of N45,829,904.86 in one day (27/4/2005). These children are
all students.
(c) Mrs. Preye Joy Ereboh (Nee Alamieyeseigha), first daughter of Chief
Alamieyeseigha, who is a civil servant also paid into her five accounts in
Guaranty Trust Bank in Yenagoa Branch in three days namely 28/4/2005,
29/4/2005 and 31/5/2005 a total of N472,363,102.98 (Four hundred and seventy
two million, three hundred and sixty three thousand, one hundred and two
Naira, ninety eight kobo).
4 Our clients are of the firm view that Governor Alamieyeseigha has
converted Bayelsa State and its resources into an exclusive colony for his
nuclear and extended family and that while his said family revel in
unfathomable wealth, the welfare and interests of the people of Bayelsa who
are the real beneficiaries and owner of these resources are suffering
criminal neglect. Socio-economic and infrastructural development in the
State is consequently progressing at sleep – walking pace.
5 Our client's prayer, therefore, is that Chief Abel Ebifemowei, Mrs. Preye
Joy Ereboh (Nee Alamieyeseigha) Mr. Enetonbrapa Alamieyeseigha, Seleake
Alamieyeseigha, Miss Embeleakpo Alamieyeseigha, Hon. Ereboh and Chief Mrs.
Margaret Alamieyeseigha should in furtherance of the anti-corruption crusade
launched by the Federal Government, be arrested and subjected to thorough
investigation for money laundering and where found culpable prosecuted in
accordance with the extant laws against money laundering and other financial
crimes. Our clients are confident that a thorough investigation of their
complaint by your office using their preliminary findings as a foundation
will unveil more sordid but rewarding recoveries.
6 We are confident that you will apply your evident commitment to the noble
task of ridding our country of corruption and money laundering to bear on
our client's complaint and ensure that the full wrath of the law is visited
on Chief Abel Ebifemowei and his co-felons.
7 Accept the assurances of our highest regards and consideration as we look
forward for your speedy and decisive action on our clients' complaint.
Yours faithfully,
O.O Ogah & Co.
Cc:
His Excellency,
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo,
The President and Commander in Chief of The Armed Forces Of the Federal
Republic Of Nigeria,
State House, Abuja.
