QUOTE
Ibori's London lawyer, Bhadresh Gohil, this morning at the Southwark Crown Court in London entered a guilty plea on the first day of his trial over the V-Mobile shares scam. Gohil’s friends and family at the Southwark Crown Court were stunned at the new development since the lawyer has always insisted that the Crown’s case is entirely based upon presumptions and a number of the presumptions are built upon other presumptions.
However, speaking to elombah.com a friend of the Gohil family said having lost two earlier cases; he is not willing to go through the third trial. “its traumatic to him, he is despondent, he had a sound lawyer in the last case and lost, you know what it costs to hire a barrister per hour, that man could no longer afford his office in high brow Central London, he had to move to a smaller office, and Ibori abandoned him to his fate”.
Moreover, other sources say Gohil may have succumbed to pressure after a team of the UK police landed in Mumbai, India over the weekend to investigate another Hawala money-laundering scam. "The UK Police was in India earlier this year to probe a multi-money-laundering scam allegedly started by Bhadresh Gohil". Elombah.com was told Gohil was accused of siphoning off funds from the UK and Nigeria through hawala networks and then buying properties in Mumbai with the money.
Mr. Gohil was arraigned on charges of being accessory to a scheme that enabled former governors, Mr. James Ibori of Delta state, Victor Obong Attah of Akwa Ibom state; the former Principal Secretary to Umaru Yar'Adua, David Edevbie;, Love Ojakovo, a former commissioner of finance to Ibori and a business associate of Ibori, Henry Imashekka to steal funds that accrued from the sale of V-Mobile shares belonging to the two states.
Arguing in Gohil's defence, Gohil's Lawyer friend told elombah.com that using some of these presumptions the investigating officers with the Metropolitan Police have leapt to some unjustifiable conclusions without any foundations or basis for same. Simultaneously the investigating officers appear to have suppressed and ignored evidence that contradicts or undermines their own case. In applying this approach the investigators have drawn time lines that are misleading and consequently distort the true facts within this matter.
The lawyer said: The three Crown’s cases centres upon Bhadresh Gohil’s business with James Ibori the elected Governor of Delta State in Nigeria. The initial Metropolitan Police investigation was in respect of allegations that James Ibpri had been corrupt and stolen public funds from Delta State. The Government of Nigeria have informed the Crown and the Metropolitan Police that having conducted an audit there are no public funds missing from Delta State.
The Metropolitan Police Investigation has had a high profile and was funded by central government. Having been unable to charge JI, the investigators have turn to others and applied weak charges without the evidence required to support same. In applying these charges the Metropolitan Police are seeking justify their actions and the considerable expense of this ongoing investigation. There is undoubtedly a sense of frustration in the Metropolitan Police and perhaps central government and this frustration has manifested itself in charges against Gohil.
One of the cornerstones of the Crown’s case is that the value of the funds alone leads to an irresistible inference that they represent the proceeds of crime, even though their own enquires have established that the majority of the funds originate from the oil business, the richest business in the world. There is no evidence provided to justify this assertion, there is no evidence of the context of the value of the funds.
The Lawyer insisted that Bhadresh Gohil has conducted enhanced due diligence, he has travelled to Nigeria and met with James Ibori in his opulent residence, for Gohil the value of the funds is entirely in keeping with his understanding of his client’s wealth.
After analysis of their investigation the Metropolitan Police and the Crown
preferred five charges against BG as above.
Mr. Gohil, who had already been convicted on other counts of money laundering in
collaboration with Ibori's wife, Theresa Nkoyo, surprised legal observers when
he choose to plead guilty rather than undergoing another grueling prosecution.
Two others Lambertus De Boer, and Daniel McCann were in court and pleaded not
guilty. The accused face 14 counts of forgery and money laundering in relation
to the sale of V-Mobile telecoms shares by two Nigerian States: Akwa Ibom State
and Delta, in which $37.8 million was stolen.
The accused men used front companies to defraud the Nigerian states of the said amount. In particular, a company, "Africa Development Finance Co." was named as the major conduit. In instances cited in the case summary, an $11 million loan was purportedly granted to an aviation company that assisted Mr. Ibori in purchasing a jet from Canada; $10 million was given to "Ascot Offshore Nigeria Limited", the company that Ibori used to purchase Wilbros; and another $790,000 was granted to another fake firm "Africa Development Co." and an offshore nominee concern. The charges of forgery concern Mr. DeBoer and McCann.
They were accused of violating the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act of the UK by creating fake documents between Delta State and Africa Finance Ltd, and also Delta and African Development Company. They are also accused of creating a false account which shows both men as beneficiaries, in order to hide the fraudulent nature of the transactions.
An Indian Lawyer insisted that the Met Police acted “unlawfully” in seeking Arlingtons Sharmas client files in relation to Ibori. He reminded elombah.com of an earlier forceful ruling HHJ ruled the actions of the Police officers being illegal and unlawful, declaring that they abused their powers. DC Ben Irons was singled out for criticism and was refused permission to give evidence. Fundamentally, this is a damming indictment of the Police behaviour and ethics. HHJ Hardy warned the Police of the extensive damages that follow as a consequence of their actions. The likelihood of damages is considerable and in an effort to limit these, DC Irons it is believed immediately returned all items to Arlingtons Sharmas. Questions as to the officer’s conduct will certainly be the cause of an urgent review by senior officers.
Reminded that two earlier juries have found the accused guilty as charged he countered that earlier revelations have confirmed that an police forensic investigator, Mr. Mitchinson was manipulated by the Police in the preparation of his report. It is clear that the report was “coached” by the Police and the issue of “backdating” has now scientifically collapsed. This shocking development has caused the Police to re-appraise it evidence. It is believed that the Police have misled a number of former Arlingtons Sharma solicitors, in particular Vickesh Bandymandhub and Mishail Dusad in an attempt to persuade them to give favourable statements. What is becoming clearer is the gross abuse of power by the Police and an absolute absence of adherence to pre-established protocols and lawful practice. Certain solicitors were also threatened with sanctions such as conspiracy in another shocking revelation.
"As far as the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service are concerned, any UK solicitor that acts on behalf of a Nigerian client with money is de facto acting for a criminal and therefore all financial transactions are potentially fraudulent regardless of the evidence that is produced to the contrary. Furthermore, even if the source of James Ibori’s funds were declared illegitimate, it is beyond a solicitor’s professional duty to be held responsible, having complied with his ‘due diligence’ requirements and ‘know your client formalities’; a fully substantiated fact that the prosecution ignore in the proceedings.
Just as Bhadresh Gohil is being used as a scapegoat for a political battle that
is out of the hands of UK authorities, today he represents every lawyer in the
UK that must fight to defend their liberties and rights against the injustices
of the system.
He insists the issues of financial crime is not suited for trial by jury who
often are biased against Black persons. He told elombah.com that the Law Society
has made representations to the legal obligations of UK Solicitors to the House
of Lords for an urgent change in the law to bring the UK in line with other
European countries, in so far as solicitors being held accountable in these
circumstances. In Europe legal practitioners cannot be prosecuted for their
clients matters.
Civil Liberties Group have also condemned the police actions as a gross abuse of
process. The Group has made representations to the Law Society, he said.
UNQUOTE
Notice that the thief has the gall to whine about the cost of barristers. This
was written by a sympathizer.
Nigerian Thief's UK Lawyer Sentenced To 7 Years In Prison
QUOTE
Judge Christopher Hardy sitting at a packed
Southwark Crown Court today told Bhadresh Gohil a partner at Arlington
Sharma Solicitors and James Ibori’s lawyer; “you have brought shame on your
family, your profession and your country” as he handed down a sentence of
over 7 years to him. (Sentence Count 1; Conspiracy to defraud -7 yrs ,
Count 2: Conspiracy to make false instruments - 3 ; 5 years and
count 4-8 involving Money laundering and Proceeds of Crime-
3 years)
Gohil who was already in custody at Wandsworth Prison following the conclusion of another trial involving Ibori’s wife, sister and mistress was told by the judge, “ You were a solicitor of the supreme Court and holding out as a man of integrity”. Adding “It’s said the real villains are in Nigeria, but this fraud required special expertise and you lent yourself to it”. Gohil was described by the judge as the “architect” and the predicate offender in a thoroughly dishonest scheme which had been devised simply to divert resources of Nigerian state funds into the pockets of others from the sale of ‘V Mobile’ shares, the third largest wireless network in operation in the whole of the African continent now known as “Airtel.” Gohil went to extra ordinary lengths to carry out the fraud with no regard for his professional duties. In fact the police found evidence implicating him in fraud in another case already heard concerning Mr. Faustin Kabwe of Zambia who is already serving a sentence.
Sasha Wass QC for Prosecution told the judge that are two elements to this crime; “the Fraud and the Money laundering”.
In 2005 whilst James Ibori was the Governor, the Delta State owned 18% of the shares in V Mobile and The Akwa Ibom state owned 10% with Obong Victor Attah in power. Both were on the board of V Mobile and privy to all the dealings. So in June 2005, when a sale of the company was considered there were already offers on the table from major international operators such as Vodaphone, Virgin, Celtel and Econet amongst others. By late 2005 the market had been fully tested and although there was no requirement for any additional advice and due to the greed of our leaders, both James Ibori and Victor Attah together decided to plunder the asset and divert funds to their own coffers.
Other Nigerian officials accused in the scam are currently at large. They include Mr. Ibori, former Governor Victor Obong Attah of Akwa Ibom, David Edevbie, a former Principal Secretary to Umaru Yar'Adua, Love Ojakovo, a former commissioner of finance to Ibori and Henry Imashekka, a business associate of Ibori.
Gohil was recruited and it was he who masterminded a simple scheme and set up a fake company as a consultancy called ADF (Africa Development Finance) which would charge exorbitant fees ( five to six times of that charged by top UK solicitors, for their alleged service and to arrange the sale. Gohil created a pretence that it was necessary for the Delta State and Akwa Ibom state to consult another company-ADF and charged $19 million and $18m respectively and sent to Access bank in Nigeria.
The basis of the fee would be a 5% flat commission and 25% -30% success fee for any price achieved over $6.5 per share. This even though the market was already established at between $6.45-$8.05 per share. The prosecutor Sasha Wass said “it is like betting after a race is concluded”. The fees were not legitimate or necessary but merely a mechanism to divert money to James Ibori and Victor Attah. It was always intended that no work would be undertaken but money diverted. Mr. Gohil from his luxury offices in St James in London, created a false paper trail by his own efforts and by instructing his junior trainees. A false agreement was typed up and Gohil forged the necessary signatures.
Once funds were received at the Access bank in Nigeria various company vehicles were used to launder the cash including Brookes Aviation, E F Samuels, Ascot Offshore Nigeria Ltd, Esconet and Cran Brasil Nominees Ltd. Both De Boer and McCann were FSA approved and were recruited by Gohil to play a part.
The Judge also told the co defendants ; Lambertus De Boer aged 65 and
Danial McCann aged 68 that, “I am satisfied that you were both drawn in
innocently in Mr. Gohil’s schemes and if you had not been then it would have
been very serious for you”. Although both co-defendants’ lawyers
made a case for suspended sentences, the Judge said that “Court of Appeal
says that white collar crime is still a crime” and handed each a 30 months
custodial sentence.
Mr. Gohil faces further sentencing regarding an earlier trial known
as “Ibori Trial 2” which concerns the trial of Ibori associates already
sentenced to five-year jail terms , that sentencing is adjourned till
April 8 2011.
UNQUOTE
They are all bent.
Nigerian Thieves' And Indian Thief's Mug Shots
QUOTE
With the help of the following accomplices: Daniel McCann, Lambertus De Boer, Bhadresh Gohil, Christine Omatie Ibori-Ibie, Udoamaka Onuigbo Theresa Ibori- James Ibori, an ex-governor of Nigeria's oil-rich Delta State siphoned off an estimated US$250million of state funds, that should have been used to improve the life of his electorate, for his personal use.
UNQUOTE
So a black are thieves; no surprises there. Ditto for the Indian. A Brit went there too. The other one sounds Boer or Dutch. We have our thieves too. Ditto for traitors but most of them are in politics.
