By GBENGA OGUNBUFUNMI

This denial has come in the wake of the recent claim by the embattled former governor that his escape from London was facilitated by the Metropolitan Police. The impeached governor through his counsel had last week while trying to secure his bail on health grounds told the court that he did not jump bail from London as widely publicised.

Alamieyeseigha said that rather than escaping from justice, he was assisted by the Metropolitan Police to leave Britian. He told the court presided over by Justice Mohammed Shuaibu that the Metropolitan Police came to his abode bundled him into a waiting aircraft and that he eventually found himself in Cote d'Ivoire. He claimed he was given the sum of 3,000 pounds sterling to transport himself to Nigeria.

However, counsel to EFCC while opposing the bail application yesterday on the ground that the former Bayelsa State governor will again jump bail as he has such antecedent, said that the Commission has contacted the Metropolitan Police on Alamieyeseigha's claim about his escape and that they (Metropolitan Police) denied having any hand in it. The Metropolitan Police response came as a result of to EFCC's request and was contained in a letter dated July 24, 2006.

The Metropolitan Police said that the former governor and his wife who had been also jumped bail after being charged to court for money laundering. They denied ever taking him to an airstrip[ and forcibly removing him from the country. His story about being taken to Cote d'Ivoire and given 3,000 pounda sterling were also described as fabrications.

The hearing continues next week.