2010-04-13
ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's anti-corruption police said on Tuesday it wanted to question former Delta state governor James Ibori, one of the OPEC member's most influential politicians, in its probe into money laundering.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it was investigating allegations from the Delta Elders Forum that 44 billion naira was looted from the Delta state government while Ibori was governor.

"Following persistent public enquiries over the status of the case involving the former governor, we will like the public to know that Chief James Ibori is wanted by the Commission for interrogation," the EFCC said in a statement.

Ibori, a senior member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) and close associate of President Umaru Yar'Adua, said he not been contacted by the EFCC for questioning.

"Ibori maintains that EFCC's action is just political and not criminal," said Ibori's spokesman Tony Eluemunor.

He is among several former state governors to have been charged by the EFCC since 2007, and several of his associates are facing money laundering charges in the United Kingdom.

A Nigerian court in December dismissed charges against Ibori of looting more than $85 million during his eight-year tenure. The EFCC has said it would appeal the ruling.

Nigeria's 36 state governors have discretionary powers over millions of dollars of public funds. Critics say they sometimes behaved like feudal monarchs, doling out cash as perks to political supporters and persecuting opponents.

The cases against the former governors were seen as a test of Nigeria's commitment to fighting graft, but they have made little progress, moving from one adjournment to another in the past two years.

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, who assumed executive powers in the absence of ailing President Yar'Adua, has made fighting graft one of his top priorities.