February 25, 2010
While former Governor James Ibori stars in a macabre plot along with Turai Yar’adua to destabilize Nigeria, the trial of his associates in London is scheduled to proceed on a fast track beginning tomorrow (Friday), according to confidential information just received by Saharareporters from court officials. Our court sources indicated that the Southwark Crown Court was confident of obtaining and swearing in 12 jurors to hear the case against Ibori’s associates.
While former Governor James Ibori stars in a macabre plot along with Turai Yar’adua to destabilize Nigeria, the trial of his associates in London is scheduled to proceed on a fast track beginning tomorrow (Friday), according to confidential information just received by Saharareporters from court officials. Our court sources indicated that the Southwark Crown Court was confident of obtaining and swearing in 12 jurors to hear the case against Ibori’s associates.
The accused are Ibori’s mistress, Udoamaka Okoronkwo (nee Onuigbo), his sister, Christie Ibie-Ibori, and a former aide, Adebimpe Pogoson.
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The court had initially experienced some difficulty in obtaining 12 suitable jurors as the earlier jury pool was only initially briefed to expect a two-week trial period. But British prosecutors now say the trial could last between 8 to 10 weeks.
Saharareporters learnt that, due to the lack of potential jurors at Southwark Crown Court, potential jurors have been drafted from other London courts. A court official told our correspondent that, as early as tomorrow morning, he expects an adequate jury pool from which 12 jurors could be empanelled and sworn in.
If the jury is composed early enough, the case against Ibori's associates is likely to commence tomorrow with an opening statement by Crown Prosecution Service lawyer, Sasha Wass, QC. Her statement would summarize the case against the three defendants.
“Due to the volume of the opening statement and the vastness of the documents involved, the opening statement could continue and be concluded on Monday,” said our source.
Earlier in the week, Oba Nsugbe, lawyer to former Ibori aide Bimpe Pogoson, had employed every available tactic to question the suitability of potential jurors, a strategy seen as a last-ditch effort to frustrate the commencement of the trial.
A London-based Nigerian lawyer, who has followed the case, told our reporter, “Once the jurors are in place, we can expect a fast-moving trial.” He said the Crown prosecutors “will move quickly to present devastating information about how Ibori and his associates connived to loot Delta State funds.”
A source involved in the investigations told Saharareporters that the recent removal of Michael Aondoakaa as Nigeria's attorney general would be a boost for the prosecution. “It’s no secret that Mr. Aondoakaa has worked hard to help Ibori and his people both in Nigeria and here in the UK,” said the source.
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The accused are Ibori’s mistress, Udoamaka Okoronkwo (nee Onuigbo), his sister, Christie Ibie-Ibori, and a former aide, Adebimpe Pogoson.
articleadslinks
The court had initially experienced some difficulty in obtaining 12 suitable jurors as the earlier jury pool was only initially briefed to expect a two-week trial period. But British prosecutors now say the trial could last between 8 to 10 weeks.
Saharareporters learnt that, due to the lack of potential jurors at Southwark Crown Court, potential jurors have been drafted from other London courts. A court official told our correspondent that, as early as tomorrow morning, he expects an adequate jury pool from which 12 jurors could be empanelled and sworn in.
If the jury is composed early enough, the case against Ibori's associates is likely to commence tomorrow with an opening statement by Crown Prosecution Service lawyer, Sasha Wass, QC. Her statement would summarize the case against the three defendants.
“Due to the volume of the opening statement and the vastness of the documents involved, the opening statement could continue and be concluded on Monday,” said our source.
Earlier in the week, Oba Nsugbe, lawyer to former Ibori aide Bimpe Pogoson, had employed every available tactic to question the suitability of potential jurors, a strategy seen as a last-ditch effort to frustrate the commencement of the trial.
A London-based Nigerian lawyer, who has followed the case, told our reporter, “Once the jurors are in place, we can expect a fast-moving trial.” He said the Crown prosecutors “will move quickly to present devastating information about how Ibori and his associates connived to loot Delta State funds.”
A source involved in the investigations told Saharareporters that the recent removal of Michael Aondoakaa as Nigeria's attorney general would be a boost for the prosecution. “It’s no secret that Mr. Aondoakaa has worked hard to help Ibori and his people both in Nigeria and here in the UK,” said the source.
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