January 9, 2008
Former Governor James Ibori was returned to prison earlier today after his associates and friends in government abandoned a shady plan to use the ruse of sickness to get him freedom.
Yesterday, Ibori, who is charged with more than a hundred counts of corruption and money laundering, was taken to the National Hospital in Abuja on ostensible grounds of serious sickness. Saharareporters was the first to report the order given by the minister of internal affairs, Godwin Abbe, for Ibori’s evacuation from Kaduna prison without recourse to the judge or the comptroller of Kaduna Prison who had dismissed earlier reports that James Ibori was ill.
Earlier today, Saharareporters learned that Ibori had disappeared from the National Hospital in the same dramatic way he was brought in yesterday from prison.
An attempt to slip Ibori out of Abuja was foiled when Saharareporters published a news report earlier today hinting at the former governor’s unannounced disappearance from the National Hospital. One security source in Abuja told Saharareporters that but for the report, Ibori could have disappeared entirely from the hospital and the story would have been different by now.
Alerted to our report, Umar Yar'adua reportedly ordered Ibori’s immediate return to Kaduna Prison. Though the National Hospital authorities claimed Ibori had been discharged, a knowledgeable source within the hospital told us there was no truth in the earlier assertion that he was ill.
“I saw James Ibori briefly yesterday,” said a medical doctor at the hospital, “and he was never ill. And I don't think he stayed in this hospital overnight.”
Saharareporters has also confirmed from other sources that Ibori has not slept in Kaduna Prison since a judge remanded him there. Our sources disclosed that he spends his nights at Pyramid Hotel, off Independence Way, Kaduna. He is ferried there every night by a special escort provided by the Federal Government.
Ibori's case comes up tomorrow before the Federal High Court in Kaduna. His lawyers are expected to make a fresh bid for him to be granted bail, a source in Kaduna told Saharareporters that with the latest shady acts by Ibori's associates in government the judge might refuse to grant him bail tomorrow.
Yesterday, Ibori, who is charged with more than a hundred counts of corruption and money laundering, was taken to the National Hospital in Abuja on ostensible grounds of serious sickness. Saharareporters was the first to report the order given by the minister of internal affairs, Godwin Abbe, for Ibori’s evacuation from Kaduna prison without recourse to the judge or the comptroller of Kaduna Prison who had dismissed earlier reports that James Ibori was ill.
Earlier today, Saharareporters learned that Ibori had disappeared from the National Hospital in the same dramatic way he was brought in yesterday from prison.
An attempt to slip Ibori out of Abuja was foiled when Saharareporters published a news report earlier today hinting at the former governor’s unannounced disappearance from the National Hospital. One security source in Abuja told Saharareporters that but for the report, Ibori could have disappeared entirely from the hospital and the story would have been different by now.
Alerted to our report, Umar Yar'adua reportedly ordered Ibori’s immediate return to Kaduna Prison. Though the National Hospital authorities claimed Ibori had been discharged, a knowledgeable source within the hospital told us there was no truth in the earlier assertion that he was ill.
“I saw James Ibori briefly yesterday,” said a medical doctor at the hospital, “and he was never ill. And I don't think he stayed in this hospital overnight.”
Saharareporters has also confirmed from other sources that Ibori has not slept in Kaduna Prison since a judge remanded him there. Our sources disclosed that he spends his nights at Pyramid Hotel, off Independence Way, Kaduna. He is ferried there every night by a special escort provided by the Federal Government.
Ibori's case comes up tomorrow before the Federal High Court in Kaduna. His lawyers are expected to make a fresh bid for him to be granted bail, a source in Kaduna told Saharareporters that with the latest shady acts by Ibori's associates in government the judge might refuse to grant him bail tomorrow.
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