Alleged fraud : Investigators write UK govt, seek visa cancellation for NPA boss, family members

Foreign Investigators have written to the UK government seeking the outright and immediate cancellation of the visas issued to the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Mohammed Bello-Koko, his wife, Agatha and all other members of his family over alleged money laundering and fraud.

The investigators, it was gathered, are also seeking an exclusion order which will outrightly ban the NPA boss and his family from ever accessing and entering the United Kingdom and its territories.

In a letter to the Home Office Secretary, 2 Marsham Street London SW1 4DF, The Rt. Hon. Suella Braverman as sighted by our reporter, the investigators further sought for the total confiscation and forfeiture of properties allegedly obtained through questionable means.

The investigations in the letter, said they have unearthed criminal acts against Mr Bello-Koko bordering on alleged money laundering activities, fraud, forgery, tax evasion and extortion.

In the letter signed by Michael O’ Leary for UK/ Ireland Investigators, they noted that as a banker with Zenith Bank Nigeria Plc, and account officer to Rivers State Government, Mr Bello-Koko allegedly stole billions of Naira in a systemic money laundering scheme with officials of the Rivers State government in Nigeria.

Their findings revealed that “On 6 November, 2015, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko (allegedly) bought a property in London worth £1,750,000.00 (One million, seven hundred and fifty thousand pounds only).

“This property was bought with (alleged) stolen funds laundered to the United Kingdom from Nigeria.”

Furthermore, the Investigators revealed that “As Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority, a high revenue earner for Nigeria after crude oil, M Bello-Koko allegedly looted the agency through several awards of fictitious contracts and money laundering schemes,” through his bank accounts.

While seeking for the accounts to be frozen pending the conclusion of investigation by the UK national Crimes Agency, the Investigators wrote that “We are therefore writing to the Rt. Hon. Home Office Secretary to use her powers to issue an Exclusion Decision on Mohammed Bello-Koko and family from the United Kingdom and its Territories.

“We cite from The Home Office “Exclusion from the U.K booklet version 1.0 page 12 under corruption.

“The types of activities associated with corruption include, but are not limited to the following: Tax evasion, Money laundering, Bribery and accepting kickbacks Extortion, Asset stealing, Fraud, Match fixing in sport”.

While hinging its argument that “A person does not need to have been convicted of a certain corruption related offence in order to be excluded. Where there is substantive reliable information that a person has been involved in corruption this should be taken into account.”

While reminding Madam Secretary of past prosecution of the likes of former Delta state governor, James Ibori, Dan Etete, amongst others, the investigators insisted that “this Exclusion Decision be invoked on the person requested”.

The Investigators also applied for a FORFEITURE ORDER on the property located at 2a Beech Hill, Barnet, EN4 OJP to avoid it being sold.