President Yar’adua restates commitment to War against Corruption
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Oct 10, 2007, 09:47

President Yar'adua on October 9 refuted media reports challenging his commitment in the fight against corruption especially in the wake of the Southwark Crown Court ruling in London lifting the restraining order on the foreign assets of former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori.

A statement released on his behalf by his Special Adviser (Communications), Olusegun Adeniyi, states:

“I would like to state with all possible emphasis that nothing could be further from the truth. President Yar’adua remains resolute and unshakable in his commitment to waging a real war against corruption.

As he has assured the nation before, President Yar’adua will never be deterred from the sincere and total prosecution of the war against corruption by the status of accused persons or whatever claims they may imagine they have on his goodwill.

In the particular case of Chief James Ibori, contrary to suggestions that President Yar’adua and his administration are willfully shielding the former governor from prosecution by the British authorities, the President has in fact authorized a visit to Nigeria by officers of the Metropolitan Police who are conducting a criminal investigation of Chief Ibori.

Furthermore, the President has directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to give the fullest possible cooperation to the officers of the Metropolitan Police in their quest for evidence of offences allegedly committed by Chief Ibori.

Because the war against corruption is a process and not an event, President Yar’adua believes that it is best to follow the path of legality in its prosecution.

He is convinced that while this may seem unduly slow to some people, it will ultimately prove to be a much more effective and enduring approach to the war against corruption in our country.

I reaffirm that as far as President Yar’adua is concerned nobody, no matter how highly placed; and no institution, no matter what it considers the rightness of its cause, will be considered a sacred cow or above the law in the bid to rid Nigeria of corrupt practices.”

Foreign assets belonging to Chief James Ibori were recently released to him following the order of a London Court.

Related Stories:

Press Statement on the Fight against Corruption

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