Saturday, 25 May 2013
Ibori Loot Trial: Again, Babalakin Not in Court For Arraignment
Wale Babalakin
By SaharaReporters, New York
A waiting horde of spectators, lawyers, journalists and court staff including the judge, Mr. Adeniyi Onigbanjo, was today disappointed at the second consecutive absence for arraignment of Bi-Courtney chief, Mr. Wale Babalakin.
Mr. Babalakin, who is accused of laundering N4.7 billion for jailed former Delta State governor, James Ibori, is still hiding in the Lagos University Teaching Hospital [LUTH], into which he checked himself following his failure to appear in court the first time on November 29.
A lawyer for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, revealed today that during the EFCC’s surveillance on Mr. Babalakin in LUTH, the suspect had pleaded with the commission’s operatives to allow him go home without being arrested, and for fear of arrest, hired private security guards to keep him closely guarded.
He noted that despite his claims of illness, Mr. Babalakin appeared to be a picture of health, and his request to be allowed to go home was turned down by the operatives who told him that if he departed from the hospital, he must show up in court. The EFCC’s insistence that he must show up in court made him to remain in the hospital.
Mr. Babalakin’s doctors told EFCC officials that their client is hypertensive, and the Bi-Courtney chief was administratively released after a director in his company, Mr. Biodun Layonu, stood surety for him a few weeks ago.
In court today, however, Mr. Layonu failed to provide Babalakin.
For Babalakin’s continued and mysterious absence, his lawyer, Mr. Ebun Sofunde, who had represented him during his absence on November 29, withdrew from the case. Bolaji Ayorinde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, stood in to continue representing the suspect.
Mr. Ayorinde is son-in-law to former Supreme Court justice George Adesola Oguntade, The retired judge jointly owns a Lekki hotel with Babalakin.
The presiding judge, Mr. Onigbanjo, adjourned the case to 12 noon after waiting patiently for the suspect and listening to the plea of his lawyers.
At the resumed sitting, Mr. Babalakin’s lawyers pointed out that they had filed for adjournment, but the EFCC counsel said he did not receive the notice until about 6pm yesterday.
Justice Onigbanjo then adjourned the matter till January 17, 2013, when the EFCC must have responded to the application for adjournment.
Mr. Jacobs told journalists after the court sitting that he suspected that all of the twists and turns were ploys by Mr. Babakalin and his lawyers to help him escape arraignment and trial.
On November 29, when Mr. Babalakin was expected to appear before Justice Onigbanjo, it was learned that he was at the Federal High Court applying for an order prohibiting his arraignment, while he had lied about the “illness” which he is currently feigning at LUTH.
Babalakin's application for that restraining order on the EFCC also continues tomorrow at the Federal High Court.
It would be recalled that only recently, the chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, while defending the EFCC’s 2013 budget before the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, said that the agency has never successfully prosecuted Nigeria’s high profile looters because of the vast resources and money they have to delay court processes.
Comments
19 comment(s)
Post a comment
It doesn't work like that
Submitted by Yemikay (not verified) on December 13, 2012 - 05:04.
Law and order is never practiced as you suggested. The main problem we have in Nigeria is that our law enforcement agencies take you to court when they have little to no evidence to back their claims. Also, our law system has no deadline for trials. Another thing is that contempt of the court means nothing. We need a reform.
Wale Babalakin Goes AWOL
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on December 13, 2012 - 01:47.
Is Wale Babalakin not a Senior Advocate of Nigeria? What a shame, what a country! A common thief and a fraud. The day of reckoning is here, and what will this coward with itching fingers do. . .he is trying to run away from the law. His father was a judge, too. Obviously cowards and frauds die many times before their death.
Only In Naija
Submitted by alli pedro (not verified) on December 13, 2012 - 01:15.
Nigeria jaga jaga, nigeria bala bala, gbosa gbosa.... Aluta
BABALAKIN HIDING
Submitted by John Olu (not verified) on December 12, 2012 - 23:22.
If Babalakin is hiding why cant the masses invade the home/office of his lawyers and arrest them. In Nigeria the lawyer of a thief is a senior thief. The lawyer of a rogue is a senior rogue. That's why they shamelessly rush on to defend them. Another solution is that the public arrest any member of his close family wherever they may be. They should just pass the words round. These are the sort of measures the people will start taking for the authorities to realise they have to govern well or quit. No more fooling.
ENOUGH is ENOUGH!!!
Submitted by Terry (not verified) on December 12, 2012 - 22:16.
The Die Is Cast Indeed! Nigerians,let's stop hoping for the much desired change:let's make the change happen. The revolution that have rocked other nations can also happen in our beloved NIGERIA. This modern day looting and slavery must end now,ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!
Please get your story
Submitted by Princess (not verified) on December 12, 2012 - 20:59.
Please get your story straight Justice Oguntade does not own any hotel anywhere, pl
Please get ur story straight
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on December 12, 2012 - 20:55.
Please get ur story straight Justice Oguntade does not own any hotel in Lekki or anywhere else.
Sooner than Soon!
Submitted by Sp34k-Out (not verified) on December 12, 2012 - 18:53.
Very soon these bunch of thieves will be brought before the court of the angry and irritated masses, there your fraudulent lawyers won't save you. Continue, it will be soon.
Efcc should act.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on December 12, 2012 - 18:53.
Well we believe EFCC should do the right thing. Even if they don't God will bring the messenger that will pass Nigeria through refining fire of cleansing.
Retired? Unemployed? Laid-Off, or Insufficient Income? Start your own Internet business from home. Build residual and leveraged income to create real wealth. World Wide Income System that REALLY WORKS! All it needs is you. FREE Training and support, websites and products all provided! - ZERO RISK!
www.sfi4.com/11879146/FREE
I sincerely agree with you.I
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on December 12, 2012 - 18:42.
I sincerely agree with you.I know nemesis will catch with them God willing.............
Nigeria is a Joke and The Judges Are Shame to The Nation !
Submitted by Ano (not verified) on December 12, 2012 - 18:31.
These billionaires act purely above the law and have all the judges in their pockets. EFCC too is a disgrace- they're are so incompetent and go through this all the time.
Just like many others- this case too will go the way of Patricia Etteh, Tinubu, David Mark, Omosore, Iyabo Obasanjo, Dimejo Bankole, and many more. Not a single governor in Nigeria has gone to trial after all the noise by EFCC. Ibori would still be in Nigeria today if not for UK. Very incompetent set of people.
Ibori Loot, Babalakin Not in Court For Arraignment?
Submitted by Jan Hazo (not verified) on December 12, 2012 - 18:16.
Now we know who thwy are. it is good to be in the power party at least you can taje the nation for ride and get away with it. No wonder they rig the elections with impunity and there is nothing ordinary Nigerian could about it, not when the Courts actively undermine the rule of law in their favour.!
A picture that makes Nigerians look like fools!
Submitted by Danboyi Gomsuk (not verified) on December 12, 2012 - 18:09.
The smiling picture of this man gives the impression that he takes us as suckers! The smile suggests that we are only wasting our time trying to prosecute him! The smile dares us to continue for we shall eventually be tired when the whirlwind subsides! If it were in times Nigeria was an object of a coup d'état this type of action and others before this could have precipitated a military take-over of government.
Look Beyond Nigeria
Submitted by Lex (not verified) on December 12, 2012 - 18:08.
It really bleeds my heart whenever the discussion is Nigeria. This country is just like the Tiger that never change its stripes. I will advise my fellow youths to look beyond Nigeria to achieve their dreams.
Lets take your business global! Sell your products to millions of potential customers worldwide on one of the fastest growing, international e-commerce sites on the Web. And the good part is it’s FREE. Simply sign up, submit your products and services, and get ready to take orders! It's quick, simple, and there's no risk because you pay nothing unless we get you sales.
http://www.tripleclicks.com/11868274/ECA
what has changed in 9ja since Nzeogwu 66-nothing brother me!
Submitted by DERI (not verified) on December 12, 2012 - 17:46.
e have been saying these things since 1966 till date. No head no tail! These were the same reasons Nzeogwu gave for killing Balewa! What has changed since then? Buhari, MM, IBB, and Abacha all gave the same selfish excuse for their coups-corruption the told us has eaten deep into the fabrics of our society-hence d coup! It turned out they were all rogues-Corruption personified in 9ja! Look at the mess in Egypt?Is d new man not worse than the Mubarak? Has Egypt known any peace since the departure of Mubarak? In 9ja we called for the sack of Azazi as the NSA. GEJ listened to d hawks and had him replaced by Dasuki. The moment he left the sponsored criticism of Azazi by el rufai, okey, bakare, buhari, sonala and pius stopped! Those who said OBJ was better than late Gani are the very individuals calling for the overthrow of GEJ again! Ask 4 us to split-then will u see dem beg like orphans!
WHAT HAS CHANGED FROM 66 TILL DATE -LET US SPLIT NOW
Submitted by DERI (not verified) on December 12, 2012 - 17:45.
We have been saying these things since 1966 till date. No head no tail! These were the same reasons Nzeogwu gave for killing Balewa! What has changed since then? Buhari, MM, IBB, and Abacha all gave the same selfish excuse for their coups-corruption the told us has eaten deep into the fabrics of our society-hence d coup! It turned out they were all rogues-Corruption personified in 9ja! Look at the mess in Egypt?Is d new man not worse than the Mubarak? Has Egypt known any peace since the departure of Mubarak? In 9ja we called for the sack of Azazi as the NSA. GEJ listened to d hawks and had him replaced by Dasuki. The moment he left the sponsored criticism of Azazi by el rufai, okey, bakare, buhari, sonala and pius stopped! Those who said OBJ was better than late Gani are the very individuals calling for the overthrow of GEJ again! Ask 4 us to split-then will u see dem beg like orphans!
A CHAOTIC AND EXTREMELY CORRUPT JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Submitted by osita DIOKA (not verified) on December 12, 2012 - 17:16.
This soap opera was expected,can one just imagine that the justice delivery system is unable to arraign a suspect who has been charged to court in this God-forsaken country,all because he belongs to that exclusive looting and plundering club.
Not only do they destroy the economy through corruption,they also defy the courts of law without consequences,that is what the country called Nigeria has turned out to be,a territory where the law of the jungle holds sway.
Babalakin definitely has some godfathers pressing buttons and undermining the rule of law in the background,before he surfaces all deals to set him free would have been concluded,this is not the first time,it will probably not be the last.We are really living up to expectation as the second most corrupt nation on planet earth.
What die is cast?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on December 12, 2012 - 16:28.
My dear friend, what are you ranting about? You Nigerians are all the same, so so noise no action! You think somebody else will take care of your headaches? You all had beta brace up and act like the egyptians who have dared even the Army. Nigerians are not ready for change,another aspirant will come to say he wore slippers to school and they will still vote for the creep! Wake up all you that slumber!
THE DIE IS CAST
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on December 12, 2012 - 15:57.
My people lets not argue or rant over the thieves lets know that sooner than later Nigeria will burst and let all the rich thieves,politicians and associates know that when the bubble burst they will have no where to hide,we will run after u and we will torture you like Mamman Ghadafi,Samuel Doe,Saddam Hussein none of them will have the trail of Mubarak cos they will all be made to cry for the pain they've caused an average Nigerian.And the truth is their family will also bear in their burden.
When the time comes which is soon with what am seeing its very soon.
THE DIE IS CAST.
