by Chi Ibe

The case of former governor of Delta State, James Ibori is still stirring up controversies even though he was jailed last month after pleading guilty to laundering millions of pounds in the UK. A recent update on the story is that British policemen investigating Ibori were taking cash payments (from Ibori, through private investigators) in exchange for information on their investigation of the case.  

Two Scotland Yard detective constables and a former detective inspector have been named as “key culprits” in bribery allegations revealed to British MPs, the Punch reports. 

News from the BBC asserts that the Home Affairs Select Committee was told about “apparent corruption right at the heart of New Scotland Yard”. The former inspector has denied any wrong-doing and the two serving officers have declined to comment. 

These new allegations were made at the parliamentary hearing on the role of private detectives. A lawyer, Mike Schwarz, from solicitors Bindmans presented evidence to the MPs showing  that private investigation firm, Risc Management Ltd., was involved in “wining and dining and paying” officers working on Ibori’s case. 

According to details released in the Punch, Schwarz, representing Ibori’s London lawyer who was jailed as part of the case, said: “The key culprits appear to be the main players who are the senior investigating officer, DI Gary Walters, and two of the key investigators who are DC John McDonald and DC Peter Clark.” Schwarz informed the committee that there were records that “show about half a dozen payments adding up to £20,000 over eight or nine months.” 

The two serving officers have not been questioned over the allegations.