December 12, 2007
Saharareporters, New York
Chief James Onafefe Ibori had his first day in court today before Justice Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, Kaduna where he was slammed with 103-counts of criminal charges of stealing, corruption, abuse of office and money laundering.
Chief Ibori was charged in company of his mistress, Udo-Amaka Okoronkwo in the Federal High Court of Kaduna. Udo Amaka's arrest and arraignment was a surprise to legal observers, as she was deemed to be in London where she is expected to appear before the London Metropolitan Police on December 19th 2007 for possible arraignment with two others-Bimpe Pogoson and Ibori's sister, Christine Ibie-Ibori.
An EFCC source told Saharareporters that Udo Amaka Okoronkwo was arrested yesterday night in her plush mansion in the Parkview Estate in Ikoyi, Lagos and flown to Kaduna on the last flight to join James Ibori in court.
Udo Amaka 's appearance with James Ibori today seem to confirm speculations that the former governor had concluded plans to make a final escape from Nigeria in company of Udo Amaka Okoronkwo, who was named in various documents as his principal accomplice in money laundering activities that has led a British High Court to place a restraint order on Ibori's worldwide assets worth $35 million
After taking their not-guilty plea, the judge ordered that James Ibori be remanded in EFCC custody till the next hearing date. He subsequently adjourned the sitting till Monday December 17th 2007.
More to come...
Chief James Onafefe Ibori had his first day in court today before Justice Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, Kaduna where he was slammed with 103-counts of criminal charges of stealing, corruption, abuse of office and money laundering.
Chief Ibori was charged in company of his mistress, Udo-Amaka Okoronkwo in the Federal High Court of Kaduna. Udo Amaka's arrest and arraignment was a surprise to legal observers, as she was deemed to be in London where she is expected to appear before the London Metropolitan Police on December 19th 2007 for possible arraignment with two others-Bimpe Pogoson and Ibori's sister, Christine Ibie-Ibori.
An EFCC source told Saharareporters that Udo Amaka Okoronkwo was arrested yesterday night in her plush mansion in the Parkview Estate in Ikoyi, Lagos and flown to Kaduna on the last flight to join James Ibori in court.
Udo Amaka 's appearance with James Ibori today seem to confirm speculations that the former governor had concluded plans to make a final escape from Nigeria in company of Udo Amaka Okoronkwo, who was named in various documents as his principal accomplice in money laundering activities that has led a British High Court to place a restraint order on Ibori's worldwide assets worth $35 million
After taking their not-guilty plea, the judge ordered that James Ibori be remanded in EFCC custody till the next hearing date. He subsequently adjourned the sitting till Monday December 17th 2007.
More to come...
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