"Star Arrest"
HOR Maurice (Morris) Ibekwe Arrested on "419" Charges
With Commentary by Mobolaji Aluko, PhD
May 30, 2003
BBC News
Last Updated: Friday, 30 May, 2003, 16:16 GMT 17:16 UK
Nigerian MP on fraud charges
A member of Nigeria's House of Representatives has appeared in court, charged
with conning a German businessman out of $350,000.
Morris Ibekwe was arrested on Wednesday by the anti-fraud commission in connection
with a so-called "419" scam.
Nigerian conmen have become notorious for duping foreign businessmen into
handing over large amounts of money, on the basis that they would receive
millions of dollars later on.
President Olusegun Obasanjo, who began his second term on Thursday, has promised
to fight corruption but was criticised for not doing enough in his first
term.
Re-elected
Nigeria is routinely ranked among the world's most corrupt countries by watchdog
Transparency International.
Mr Ibekwe was remanded in custody, along with three other suspects, by a
court in Lagos.
The BBC's Bala Ibrahim in Lagos says Mr Ibekwe is the first legislator to
be arrested for financial crimes since the return of civilian government
in 1999.
He was re-elected as a ruling People's Democratic Party Representative from
the southern Imo State in last month's parliamentary elections.
Police sources told Nigeria's Guardian newspaper that he was arrested to
stop him taking part in the inauguration of the new legislature.
He allegedly obtained "the sum of $300,000 and 75,000 deutschmarks ($45,000)
under false pretence from one Munch Klause, a German national," said a statement
from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Aluko Commentary
Did Maurice (Morris) Ibekwe defraud Munch Klause (Monk Nicholas)?
Inquring minds will eventually find out in this interesting "419" case involving
our newly-reelected HOR member.
This our Nuhu Ribadu new crime commissioner is also a man to watch - he has
been breathing fire lately. Maybe he will eventually solve our "419"
problem? Let us pray. [Amen.]
Moving on....
Chief Maurice (or Morris) Ibekwe is popularly called the "Traditional Prime
Minister of Okwele Imo-State". He represented Isiala-Mbano/Okigwe/Onuimo
federal constituency in 1999-2003, and was the Chairman of the House of Representatives'
Committee on Internal Security. Yes - Internal Security.
Delta monarchs urge colleagues to shun politics
He was re-elected recently on April 12, 2003 in the HOR elections:
Imo: ISIALA MBANO / OKIGWE / ONUIMO
House of Representatives
He was also a member of the Imo State delegation to the 1995 Constitutional
Conference under Abacha:
Members of the 1995 Constitutional Conference
Ayinde Barrister sang a song in his praise in 1991:
Discography of King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal 1
In business, he is the Founder/CEO of Okwelle Holdings.
Finally, he was an early supporter of "Orji Kalu for President" to run against
President Obasanjo.
3/25/2002 -As politicians continue to debate who should become Nigeria's President in 2003, members of the House of Representatives from the South-east geo-political zone have thrown their weights behind Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu for the nation's presidency. Kalu, according to the parliamentarians, is to be paired with another youthful and principled politician from the
north, particularly from the north-west geo-political zone to form a strong partnership in search of the PDP ticket for the presidency in 2003. Disclosing this to newsmen in an interview in Abuja at the weekend, a member of the forum and chairman of the House committee on Internal security, Hon. Maurice Ibekwe said consultations had commenced on who should pair Kalu to challenge incumbent president, Olusegun Obasanjo for the party's nomination.
Interesting man, this Morris (Maurice) Ibekwe, quite "vibrant" as Nigerians
are wont to say. Right now though, he needs a very good lawyer,
a darn good one, most likely a SAN.
He probably can afford it.
I rest my own case
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