London — Nigerians in London Friday used phone calls to chase the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Michael Aondoakaa, out of the London Heathrow Marriot Hotel on Bath Road, Harlington, Hayes, UB3 5AN, United Kingdom. Aondoakaa was said to have promptly left after the calls became too strident.
His spokesperson Taye Akinyemi, however, told LEADERSHIP SUNDAY yesterday that he was not aware of the incident. He promised to call his principal to confirm the story, but he later said he could not reach the minister.
The protest
The phone calls by Nigerians followed an advisory by the Nigeria Liberty Forum in London notifying Nigerian nationals that Aondoakaa was in the city.
"Nigeria and all haters of corruption have been alerted to the presence in London of Nigeria's notoriously corrupt protector of looters of Nigeria, Michael Aondoakaa," it said.
The minister arrived in the UK two days ago to deploy federal power against the impending trial of President Yar'Adua's friends: the former Delta State governor, James Ibori, and Yar'Adua's private principal secretary, David Edevbie. The trial commences at the Southwark Crown Court on Monday.
The Nigeria Liberty Forum, which earlier this year successfully organised a protest against the presence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, at the London School of Economics and Political Science, urged Nigerians to protest Aondoakaa's presence from the comfort of their homes by calling the hotel to ask them to kick the AGF out of the place.
The NLF advised callers: "Be civil, ask to speak with Michael Aondoakaa after you dial to speak with the operator. If he is there in his room, curse the daylights out of him for destroying Nigeria; if he is absent, leave him a voicemail message.
It was gathered that the Marriot Hotel management found themselves overwhelmed by calls from across the world within just 30 minutes. They said that Mr. Aondoakaa, who had checked into the hotel the day before, checked out abruptly when alerted that so many people were calling to ask after him. Sources said Aondoakaa left empty-handed without successfully securing any meetings with the UK Home Office or the Crown Prosecution Service, the UK bodies to which he was instructed to make some protests and submit "clearance papers" on behalf of Ibori and Edevbie.
Aondoakaa, who also claimed to have attended a UN meeting for a few hours in Vienna Friday, told his friends who approached him about his recent embarrassing conduct that he was merely playing the script of Nigeria's taciturn and reclusive leader, Umaru Yar'Adua.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY, Kayode Ogundamesi, the leader of the NLF, said his organisation is in the forefront of bringing "Nigerians living in Britain to make the life of looters hell when they are visiting the UK. We shall be at the court tomorrow when their trial begins," he said.
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Thank you guys for what you are doing to those looters. They have made a hell out the lives of the blessed people of Nigeria. Those money-devils will have no peace and no rest. Their time is up!
This is what we need. Nigerians taking direct action to make their opinions heard. It brings great joy to my heart that this corrupt fool could not secure a meeting with the British authorities. The idiot thinks that this is Nigeria where you can do and undo after egunje has passed hands.
As an attorney general of a federation this goat should know that once a matter is before a court of law it becomes sub-judice - which means that no true professional in the government be they poiticians or civil servants can get involved in the matter until the court has passed a ruling.
This monkey just came here to shame himself and our great nation. He should have spent his time convincing his oga that it is his oga's duty to go and represent Nigeria at the coming meetings at the U.N, but ours is not a country of sane politicians. Mad, they are all mad!
Bravo brothers and sisters. At least if we are lily-livered to do anything at home because we have been too pauperized to act, then go on and may the good lord bless your efforts and for any corrupt government official or their cronies that steps into London or any western nation, never let them enjoy their loot.
Many thanks.
more grease to your elbows Nigerians in London for your courage for telling a bloated,greedy corrupt cheat what you think of him.Here in Nigeria we are subduded and the doings of these rogues go unpunished.One day their day of reckoning will come for the ruin and disgrace they have brought upon this nation.until then may others like him receive a welcome like that befitting the likes of their bloated,greasy,corrupt and rodent like nature.they all disgust me because the potentials of our country will not see fruitation when the likes of evil selfish creatures remain in power or make policies.from independence till date all those who have created havoc will pay even if their sins are visited upon their children or their children,children.