The 2005 Alamieyeseigha saga blends verifiable events, legal consequences, and media-driven myths that shaped Nigeria’s debate on corruption and press ethics.
Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha (16 November 1952 – 10 October 2015) was the first civilian Governor of Bayelsa State, serving from 29 May 1999 until his impeachment on 9 December 2005. A senior member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), he was a powerful political figure in Nigeria’s early Fourth Republic.
His tenure became one of the country’s most documented cases connecting high-level politics, cross-border financial crime, and media sensationalism.
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Arrest in London
In September 2005, Alamieyeseigha was arrested at Heathrow Airport by the London Metropolitan Police on suspicion of money laundering. Investigations by the Crown Prosecution Service uncovered approximately £1 million in cash, several UK properties, and multiple bank accounts suspected to hold diverted public funds.
He was charged before the Bow Street Magistrates’ Court and granted conditional bail. His international passport was confiscated, and he was required to report regularly to British authorities.
Escape and the Disguise Controversy
By late November 2005, British police confirmed that Alamieyeseigha had fled the UK, breaching his bail. The news shocked Nigeria and quickly spiralled into one of the most dramatic political stories of the decade.
Tabloid-style reports claimed he disguised himself as a woman, wearing a wig and makeup, to evade arrest, allegedly travelling through Paris and Douala before reappearing in Nigeria.
However, no official record or court filing ever supported this version. Neither British nor Nigerian documents mention any disguise or fake passport. Alamieyeseigha himself joked when asked:
“I don’t know myself; I just woke up and found myself in Amassoma.”
(PM News Nigeria, Dec 2005)
Scholars and verified sources now regard the “female disguise” story as political folklore, an unsubstantiated rumour that captured the public imagination but lacked evidence.
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The ThisDay Photomontage and Media Ethics
After his return, ThisDay newspaper published a digitally edited photomontage showing Alamieyeseigha in women’s attire, complete with a red gown, head-tie and lipstick. The image was intended as satire referencing the rumour but was widely mistaken for a real photograph.
This misinterpretation fuelled the legend and highlighted a key ethical issue in Nigerian journalism, how editorial humour and digital manipulation can distort public understanding. The montage remains a symbolic case study in the intersection of media satire, misinformation and political scandal.
Impeachment and Prosecution in Nigeria
On 9 December 2005, the Bayelsa State House of Assembly impeached Alamieyeseigha on charges of corruption and gross misconduct, ending his governorship. The EFCC immediately arrested him and filed multiple counts of money laundering and false asset declaration.
In July 2007, he entered a plea bargain, pleading guilty to six charges. The Federal High Court sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently. Having already spent nearly two years in custody, he was released soon after.
As part of the plea deal, he forfeited millions of dollars’ worth of assets in Nigeria and abroad. The UK High Court later ordered the confiscation of his London properties and bank accounts through mutual legal assistance.
Presidential Pardon and Reaction
On 12 March 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan granted Alamieyeseigha a state pardon.
The decision drew widespread criticism from civil-society groups and international observers who saw it as a setback for anti-corruption reform. Supporters, however, viewed it as an act of reconciliation for a Niger Delta leader who had completed his legal penalties.
Author’s Note
Diepreye Alamieyeseigha’s story is both historical record and national myth. The verified timeline is clear: a governor arrested abroad for money laundering, who breached bail, was impeached, convicted, and later pardoned. What remains in folklore, the wigs, the red dress, and the secret escape, represents how media narratives can evolve beyond fact, merging truth and imagination into enduring political mythology.
The Alamieyeseigha case ultimately exposes a vital lesson for Nigeria: that the pursuit of accountability must coexist with the discipline of factual reporting.
References:
The Guardian (UK). “Nigeria governor faces laundering charge.” 23 November 2005.
World Bank/UNODC StAR Initiative. Case Study: Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha (Nigeria–UK), 2023.
PM News Nigeria. “How I found myself in Amassoma – Alamieyeseigha,” December 2005.
Proshare Nigeria. “EFCC Case Summary: Diepreye Alamieyeseigha,” 2014.
World Bank StAR Database. UK High Court Judgment on Alamieyeseigha Asset Forfeiture, 2008.
Reuters. “Nigeria’s Jonathan pardons ally convicted of graft,” 12 March 2013.
Mail & Guardian (South Africa). “Nigeria’s Governor Flees London in Disguise,” November 2005.
ThisDay (Nigeria). “Photomontage Satire of Alamieyeseigha,” November 2005.
