April 18, 2010
The legal maneuvers over former Governor James Ibori’s massive money laundering activities continued today before the Federal High Court in Asaba presided over by Judge Ibrahim Buba.
At a hearing earlier today, Buba took arguments from Ibori’s lawyers and reviewed two motions by lawyers representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) asking the judge not to grant Ibori an “exparte order’ restraining the anti-corruption agency from arresting or prosecuting Ibori.
Last week, Saharareporters revealed that Judge Buba – who is notorious for granting nefarious injunctions restraining the EFCC from arresting economic offenders – had issued an order from his car ordering the EFCC not to arrest Ibori. As soon as the order was sealed, Ibori’s agents went to town, using his newspaper (Daily Independent) and other media to gleefully announce that the EFCC had been restrained from arresting him.
But after Saharareporters exposed the deal, Justice Buba “developed cold feet,” said a source within the judiciary, and released a proper court document as well as personal notes he purportedly took in an open court claiming that he did not give any order to forestall Ibori’s arrest. He further stated that he had only instructed that the parties be put on notice.
But a lawyer who was in court today told Saharareporters that Justice Buba’s demeanor exposed “a judge who is heading in a predictable direction,” adding that the judge “did not give a noble account of the bench today.”
Judge Buba instructed all parties to maintain the status quo ante while he adjourned the case till April 23 2010 to take full arguments.
Saharareporters had revealed as on April 5 2010 that Ibori was shopping for a judge to award him a court injunction restraining the EFCC from arresting him. The plot, which was hatched between Ibori and the new chief judge of the Federal High Court, was leaked to us by a judicial worker who had been privy to the movement of Justice Buba to the Federal High Court Asaba for the purpose of granting the perpetual injunction against the EFCC.
“In asking that all parties maintain the status quo today, Justice Buba – who was no doubt smarting from public outcry over his conduct – was trying to grant Ibori a restraining order through the back door,” said a senior advocate who spoke to us. The lawyer said that the EFCC “fortunately has the upper hand here, since the agency had already obtained a competent warrant to arrest Ibori. That warrant must be interpreted as the status quo.”
Meanwhile, the money laundering trial of Ibori’s associates continues before the Southwark Crown Court in London. The jury has been instructed to hold Ibori’s sister, Christie Ibie-Ibori, liable for refusing to testify in person, but the ex-governor’s former personal assistant, Bimpe Pogoson, has begun testifying under oath in the open court.
Ms. Pogoson’s testimony will resume this week, said a source, adding that she had made some interesting revelations. Saharareporters could not confirm whether Ibori’s mistress, Udoamaka Okoronkwo, will testify at the trial.
At a hearing earlier today, Buba took arguments from Ibori’s lawyers and reviewed two motions by lawyers representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) asking the judge not to grant Ibori an “exparte order’ restraining the anti-corruption agency from arresting or prosecuting Ibori.
Last week, Saharareporters revealed that Judge Buba – who is notorious for granting nefarious injunctions restraining the EFCC from arresting economic offenders – had issued an order from his car ordering the EFCC not to arrest Ibori. As soon as the order was sealed, Ibori’s agents went to town, using his newspaper (Daily Independent) and other media to gleefully announce that the EFCC had been restrained from arresting him.
But after Saharareporters exposed the deal, Justice Buba “developed cold feet,” said a source within the judiciary, and released a proper court document as well as personal notes he purportedly took in an open court claiming that he did not give any order to forestall Ibori’s arrest. He further stated that he had only instructed that the parties be put on notice.
But a lawyer who was in court today told Saharareporters that Justice Buba’s demeanor exposed “a judge who is heading in a predictable direction,” adding that the judge “did not give a noble account of the bench today.”
Judge Buba instructed all parties to maintain the status quo ante while he adjourned the case till April 23 2010 to take full arguments.
Saharareporters had revealed as on April 5 2010 that Ibori was shopping for a judge to award him a court injunction restraining the EFCC from arresting him. The plot, which was hatched between Ibori and the new chief judge of the Federal High Court, was leaked to us by a judicial worker who had been privy to the movement of Justice Buba to the Federal High Court Asaba for the purpose of granting the perpetual injunction against the EFCC.
“In asking that all parties maintain the status quo today, Justice Buba – who was no doubt smarting from public outcry over his conduct – was trying to grant Ibori a restraining order through the back door,” said a senior advocate who spoke to us. The lawyer said that the EFCC “fortunately has the upper hand here, since the agency had already obtained a competent warrant to arrest Ibori. That warrant must be interpreted as the status quo.”
Meanwhile, the money laundering trial of Ibori’s associates continues before the Southwark Crown Court in London. The jury has been instructed to hold Ibori’s sister, Christie Ibie-Ibori, liable for refusing to testify in person, but the ex-governor’s former personal assistant, Bimpe Pogoson, has begun testifying under oath in the open court.
Ms. Pogoson’s testimony will resume this week, said a source, adding that she had made some interesting revelations. Saharareporters could not confirm whether Ibori’s mistress, Udoamaka Okoronkwo, will testify at the trial.
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