Crossword Genius

Dodgy alibi, with connections offering gifts (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

abilities

'gifts' is the definition.
(as in talents)

'dodgy alibi with connections' is the wordplay.
'dodgy' indicates an anagram.
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'connections' becomes 'ties' (tie is a kind of connection).
'alibi' anagrammed gives 'abili'.
'abili'+'ties'='ABILITIES'

'offering' is the link.

(Other definitions for abilities that I've seen before include "The powers to do" , "skills" , "Talents" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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