By Uduma Kalu
A First Republic politician and Delta State elder statesman Chief C. Omomedia, has accused Britain of a hidden agenda in the handling of the money laundering allegations against former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori.

The elder statesman, in a letter addressed to the United Arab Emirates Embassy in Nigeria and made available to Vanguard, said Ibori had £10m in UK account before he became Governor of the state and was never named as a suspected thief in the UK until October 1, 2007, which, however, the courts in London and Nigeria nullified for want of evidence.

The politician said Ibori was being persecuted by Britain because he checkmated UK’s underhand dealings with Nigeria. “If they (Britain) want to buy oil from Nigeria, they buy at $70 per barrel instead of £70. And when Chief Ibori went to negotiate with another country, they agreed to buy $150 instead of $70. This is why the British are angry and want Ibori killed when the issue of corruption against him came on board,” he said.

Omomedia asked Britain to retrace its steps in the handling of Ibori’s matter.