January 10, 2008
EFCC prosecutors dashed any hope by former Governor James Ibori's lawyers to make a case for bail as they filed additional charges of corruption and money laundering against Ibori.
The Federal High Court in Kaduna adjourned the case till Tuesday for the continuation of the hearing.
At the resumed hearing today in Kaduna, EFCC prosecutors preferred 23 new charges against the former governor of oil rich Delta State. With the additional charges Ibori now faces 126 felonious counts of corruption, stealing, money laundering and abuse of office.
After taking a fresh "No Guilty" plea, the judge adjourned the case till Tuesday January 15 2008.
Observers in court were particularly interested in Ibori’s physical state following widespread reports two days ago that he was sick. The former governor was briefly transferred to the VIP section of the National Hospital in Abuja before being returned to Kaduna Prison.
Contrary to the contrived health scare cooked up by Ibori's associates in government in a bid to shape public sentiments in favor of his release, Ibori looked healthy during today’s court appearance. “He even stood for most of the more than one hour of the court session,” said a lawyer who witnessed the hearing.
Meanwhile, Saharareporters has learned that Interpol operatives may have located wanted former Governor Lucky Igbinedion in Paris, France. Three days ago, a Federal High Court judge, Binta Nyako, had issued an arrest warrant on Igbinedion who governed Edo State for eight years, and is accused of stealing millions of dollars.
An Interpol source told Saharareporters that they are closing in on Igbinedion and might soon get him arrested and repatriated to Nigeria to face charges of corruption and money laundering.
...PM News, Lagos
By Adi Femi/Kaduna & Tokunbo Olajide
Former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, is to remain in prison custody till January 15 when the court will hear his plea on bail application. The presiding judge of a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna, Justice Muhamed Lawal Shuaibu, this morning rejected the bail application of the accused’s counsel, Mr. Joseph Dauda (SAN), who argued that his client, Ibori, had been in detention for too long to be denied bail today.
Justice Shuaibu, submitted that the entire process of justice must be followed to ensure that the case is given speedy hearing.
He added that the issue of a new affidavit from the accused person needs to be properly looked into by the EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs.
Earlier in his argument, Jacobs drew the attention of the court to the 26-count fresh charge for adoption, which was subsequently adopted by the court.
The EFCC counsel also argued that the accused was an ex-convict and that he had mobilised some militants against some EFCC operatives while in court at the last sitting on 17 December, 2007.
The EFCC counsel also argued that the accused could jump bail if his prayer for bail is granted. He therefore urged the court to reject Ibori’s plea for bail on grounds of ill-health.
Ibori’s counsel, however, disagreed with the EFCC counsel, stating that: “Ibori was never an ex-convict, neither does he have a band of militants nor can he jump bail. He is a man of respectable personality - a former governor for that matter.”
Dauda therefore queried the inability of the EFCC counsel to study the affidavit sent by them to the EFCC.
Ibori’s counsel argued that there is no basis for the continued detention of the former governor since the case against him and the offences are bailable.
He therefore urged the court to grant Ibori bail.
But Jacobs disagreed, saying the EFCC needs to do a thorough job since the case at hand is a sensitive one that requires proper attention for justice to be done.
The judge, having listened to both parties, granted the EFCC counsel’s plea for adjournment to study the affidavit and respond properly.
The embattled former governor returned to the dock after he was discharged yesterday from the National Hospital Abuja. He was earlier admitted following ‘a medical condition’ which required ‘urgent attention.’
Ibori, who is facing a 139-count charge of corruption and money laundering brought against him by the EFCC, has been in prison custody since 17 December last year.
He was ordered to be remanded at the Kaduna Prison following his arraignment before a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna by the anti-graft agency.
The court had declined to grant the ex-governor bail, and fixed his trial for today, 11 January, when he was again denied freedom.
The Federal High Court in Kaduna adjourned the case till Tuesday for the continuation of the hearing.
At the resumed hearing today in Kaduna, EFCC prosecutors preferred 23 new charges against the former governor of oil rich Delta State. With the additional charges Ibori now faces 126 felonious counts of corruption, stealing, money laundering and abuse of office.
After taking a fresh "No Guilty" plea, the judge adjourned the case till Tuesday January 15 2008.
Observers in court were particularly interested in Ibori’s physical state following widespread reports two days ago that he was sick. The former governor was briefly transferred to the VIP section of the National Hospital in Abuja before being returned to Kaduna Prison.
Contrary to the contrived health scare cooked up by Ibori's associates in government in a bid to shape public sentiments in favor of his release, Ibori looked healthy during today’s court appearance. “He even stood for most of the more than one hour of the court session,” said a lawyer who witnessed the hearing.
Meanwhile, Saharareporters has learned that Interpol operatives may have located wanted former Governor Lucky Igbinedion in Paris, France. Three days ago, a Federal High Court judge, Binta Nyako, had issued an arrest warrant on Igbinedion who governed Edo State for eight years, and is accused of stealing millions of dollars.
An Interpol source told Saharareporters that they are closing in on Igbinedion and might soon get him arrested and repatriated to Nigeria to face charges of corruption and money laundering.
...PM News, Lagos
By Adi Femi/Kaduna & Tokunbo Olajide
Former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, is to remain in prison custody till January 15 when the court will hear his plea on bail application. The presiding judge of a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna, Justice Muhamed Lawal Shuaibu, this morning rejected the bail application of the accused’s counsel, Mr. Joseph Dauda (SAN), who argued that his client, Ibori, had been in detention for too long to be denied bail today.
Justice Shuaibu, submitted that the entire process of justice must be followed to ensure that the case is given speedy hearing.
He added that the issue of a new affidavit from the accused person needs to be properly looked into by the EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs.
Earlier in his argument, Jacobs drew the attention of the court to the 26-count fresh charge for adoption, which was subsequently adopted by the court.
The EFCC counsel also argued that the accused was an ex-convict and that he had mobilised some militants against some EFCC operatives while in court at the last sitting on 17 December, 2007.
The EFCC counsel also argued that the accused could jump bail if his prayer for bail is granted. He therefore urged the court to reject Ibori’s plea for bail on grounds of ill-health.
Ibori’s counsel, however, disagreed with the EFCC counsel, stating that: “Ibori was never an ex-convict, neither does he have a band of militants nor can he jump bail. He is a man of respectable personality - a former governor for that matter.”
Dauda therefore queried the inability of the EFCC counsel to study the affidavit sent by them to the EFCC.
Ibori’s counsel argued that there is no basis for the continued detention of the former governor since the case against him and the offences are bailable.
He therefore urged the court to grant Ibori bail.
But Jacobs disagreed, saying the EFCC needs to do a thorough job since the case at hand is a sensitive one that requires proper attention for justice to be done.
The judge, having listened to both parties, granted the EFCC counsel’s plea for adjournment to study the affidavit and respond properly.
The embattled former governor returned to the dock after he was discharged yesterday from the National Hospital Abuja. He was earlier admitted following ‘a medical condition’ which required ‘urgent attention.’
Ibori, who is facing a 139-count charge of corruption and money laundering brought against him by the EFCC, has been in prison custody since 17 December last year.
He was ordered to be remanded at the Kaduna Prison following his arraignment before a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna by the anti-graft agency.
The court had declined to grant the ex-governor bail, and fixed his trial for today, 11 January, when he was again denied freedom.
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