Alamieyeseigha Declared Wanted By UK Government

Andrew Pocock {British High Commissioner to Nigeria} in an interview said the former Nigerian governor, who recently got state pardon from his criminal conviction in Nigeria, still has an outstanding case of money laundering to answer to in the UK and that the UK government will not give up until Mr. Alamieyeseigha is brought to justice.

Mr. Alamieyeseigha, then a serving governor, made a dramatic escape from the custody of the British authorities when he fled back to Nigeria from detention in September 2005. He would later be convicted on similar money laundering charges on July 26, 2007 in Nigeria after he was impeached as governor. Shocked by his recent state pardon by the Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan Mr. Pocock said the UK had asked the Attorney General and Minister for Justice for Alamieyeseigha's extradition and was still awaiting his position on the issue only to be more bewildered by President Goodluck Jonathan gestures when he extricated the UK convict of all wrong doing via the state clemency.

"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 charge in the UK." - Mr. Pocock

On UK's past and present efforts to see that Alamieyeseigha is extradited to the UK, Mr. Pocock said: "Yes. I think we asked in the past. I am very sure we asked in the past. But I am not sure we got a formal response. So, we are still waiting for a formal response from the Nigerian government.

"We have asked the Attorney General. He will have to tell us what his position is on extradition. I haven't had a reply yet, but we still wait for it," the British envoy added.
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