N500million Loot: From Rumour to Reality – London Met Police Confirms arrest of ACN Governor’s wife

N500million Loot: From Rumour to Reality – London Metropolitan Police Confirms arrest of ACN Governor’s wife

London Metropolitan Police has confirmed the arrest of Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, wife of Oyo state Governor, over  money laundering.
The Met confirmation came this afternoon following an enquiry by P.M.NEWS on the story making the rounds that Mrs. Ajimobi was arrested in London, with the sum of 400,000 pounds and thousands of US dollars, valued at N500million.
The Met simply said ‘Yes’ to our question, seeking confirmation about the arrest.
However, the organization declined to give further information about the matter, citing a UK law.
“I am sorry, we are unable to disclose any information to you under the Data Protection Act,” an officer in the MET Lambeth Office responded.
There was anxiety in the government circles of Nigeria’s Oyo State  this morning over the arrest of Mrs. Ajimobi.
Reports on the web and some blogs claimed that the woman was arrested two weeks ago by the London Metropolitan Police on her 52nd trip to the UK since her husband became governor 17 months ago.
London Met Police has not issued any statement about her alleged arrest. And her name drew blank in a search of the Met Police website by P.M.NEWS.
The unconfirmed reports claimed that Governor Abiola Ajimobi has had to fly to the UK to get her bailed. Mrs. Ajimobi has a North London address in Golders Green and ordinarily visits the UK.
So far, the Oyo state government has kept mute over this story. And the disappearance of Governor Ajimobi from Ibadan, the capital for some two days has further given some ammunition to the purveyors of the news about his wife, styled The First Lady of Oyo state.
Governor Ajimobi was in office today, but bearers of the tale about the wife, have been unrelenting.
Mrs. Ajimobi’s personal staff at Agodi have also not issued denials of any sort.
Miss Yemisi Dada, Special Assistant on Media to Chief Mrs. Ajimobi on a phone interaction at exactly 8:11am claimed that she was not in Ibadan at the time of the telephone conversation adding that she was not aware of such development.
“I cannot talk about that. I am not aware of what you are talking about and besides, I am not in Ibadan right now. Meanwhile, I will find out the correct situation and get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks”.
Earlier Issues
MEANWHILE report in August by the People magazine says that the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi recently abandoned his official duties to sympathize with his wife who was in a bad mood after her precious diamond necklace was stolen.
People magazine reported that the highly respected First Lady is said to be in control of the affairs of the state, and no proposal or contract could get approved without her consent.
Excerpt from the GE magazine cover goes thus:
“Two Mondays ago, precisely Monday 23rd July 2012, His Excellency, Senator Isiaka Ajimobi was absent at the State’s exco meeting. Shortly after the meeting, apparently worried members called at his residence to inquire what could have gone wrong.
The bespectacled governor simply told his kitchen cabinet members that he was not in the very best of mood; hence his absence at his meeting. Obviously, Her Excellency, the First Lady of the Pacesetter state, Florence Ajimobi was not in a good mood after her diamond necklace had allegedly been stolen, and her husband had to show concern by staying back to empathize with her.
That Florence wields so much power in Oyo state might be stating the obvious. Aside domestic affairs, her staying power has equally extended to how things are done in the state and it’s very obvious to those in the game. For instance, the appointment of caretaker members for the Local governments in the state last year, had a greater input of the First Lady.
A source said, “even if a Local government caretaker chairman is irresponsible to the people, if such chairman is ‘responsible’ to the First Lady, there is no problem”.
A particular chairman, who placed a full page advertorial in Nigerian Tribune of Tuesday, June 19, 2012, listed among his achievements and by extension, success story of Governor Ajimobi as (i) purchase of brand New Toyota Rav4 Jeep for the office of the chairman; observation of weekly and monthly environmental sanitation exercises; sponsoring of people to both Jerusalem and Mecca; regular payment of staff salaries and other ‘Ajimobiphobia Achievements’.
The particular Local government chairman is said to be a favorite of the First Lady and no one dares look the way of querying such bogus achievements, listed in the national newspaper.
Last year, when the delegation to go for the Holy pilgrimage to Mecca, was to embark on preparations, Florence was said to have insisted on following her husband, as the First Lady to the Holy Land. According to her, a prayer jointly said is better for the state.
No sooner has she arrived, however, was she to lead another delegation to Jerusalem for the Christian pilgrimage; a move that actually raised suspicion in many quarters. Those who have presented laudable proposals to the state government expressed how their ideas have been frustrated because they could not get the blessings of the First Lady who virtually holds the cake and the knife.
Since an unofficial appointment of his daughter as the Personal Assistant to the governor, most of the workings and goings-on in the office are at Her Excellency’s finger tips. As at the time of writing this report, it was gathered that the couple were in the United Kingdom on an investment drive for the state, and perhaps too, to enjoy the Olympics fever”.

LibertyReport