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Court Throws Out Ibori’s Request

March 9, 2008

The Federal High Court, Kaduna, this morning dismissed the motion filed by the former governor of Delta State James Ibori, to transfer his case from Kaduna to the judicial division where the alleged offences of corruption and money laundering were committed.


In his ruling, Justice Mohammed Lawal Shuaibu, submitted that the Federal High Court in Kaduna is competent and it was within its jurisdiction to hear cases of corruption and money laundering against the former governor.

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Justice Shuaibu also averred that Ibori and Uzoma Okoronkwo (co-accused) have failed to provide “substantial, unequivocal, potent and valid evidence in the motion filed by them on the tendency for the court to be biased over the case.”

Ibori, in his motion (FHC/6/81) 2008, had prayed the presiding judge to rescue him from further participating in the trial since hearing the case outside the judicial division where the offences are committed will amount to an infringement on his fundamental right and constitute a bias.

The motion further stated that failure to transfer the case would grossly violate Ibori and Uzoamaka’s rights to fair hearing, particularly the right to adequately prepare their defence against the 129-count charge levelled against them.

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He added that Kaduna is not a convenient forum chosen by the EFCC for reasons of “forum shopping”.

Meanwhile, the third accused, who is a legal practitioner, was brought to court his morning by the EFCC which further amended 170-count charge brought against Ibori and others. Ibori pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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