Former Nigerian state governor sentenced on corruption charges

The Associated Press
Thursday, July 26, 2007

LAGOS, Nigeria: A court in Nigeria sentenced a former state governor to two years in jail Thursday and ordered him to forfeit properties and cash worth millions.

Dieprieye Alamieyeseigha, former governor of oil-rich Bayelsa state, pleaded guilty to six counts of corruption and money laundering before Judge Mohammed Shuaibu of the Lagos High Court. The judge sentenced him to two years jail on each count, but ruled the jail terms be served concurrently from the time of his arrest in Nigeria two years ago.

The former governor will forfeit to the government housing estates in different parts of the country, stocks worth US$7.9 million (€5.76 million) and cash in different currencies estimated to be worth several million dollars (euros).

Alamieyeseigha was first arrested and charged with money laundering in London in September 2005. He escaped from Britain while out on bail, allegedly disguised as a woman, and returned to Nigeria where he was immune from prosecution as a state governor. Within weeks, he was removed from office by his state's lawmakers and subsequently arrested and charged by Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Having spent nearly two years in jail prior to his trial, Alamieyeseigha will be eligible to be released within about a year.

Armed militants who have attacked oil installations in Nigeria's southern oil region and kidnapped foreign oil workers had listed freedom for Alamieyeseigha among their demands, saying he was singled out by former president Olusegun Obasanjo over political differences.

Since President Umaru Yar'Adua succeeded Obasanjo at the end of May, Nigeria's financial crimes agency has stepped up efforts to try several former state governors for stealing public funds while in office. At least six former governors are currently under arrest and four of them have been charged to court.

Nigeria is regularly rated one of the most corrupt countries in the world by Berlin-based anti-graft watchdog, Transparency International.

Yar'Adua on taking office pledged to fight corruption, largely blamed for widespread poverty and lack of development in Nigeria despite its oil riches.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/26/africa/AF-GEN-Nigeria-Corruption.php