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.