James Ibori denied bail again, to spend Christmas and New Year's in Kaduna prison

Last View on Mon 17th December, 2007
Last Modified on Mon 17th December, 2007 9:20:37 am
Author: Posted by Admin Sahara

Saharareporters, New York

The hope of early release and jubilation were foreclosed at the Federal High Court in Kaduna and Lagos for former Delta State governor James Ibori and his Ekiti State counterpart, Ayodele Fayose, as both of them were ordered remanded in prison custody until next year.
 
James Ibori was ordered remanded at the Kaduna prison while Fayose will be in Ikoyi prison till next year.

Saharareporters could not confirm as at press time what legal argument sustained the decision of the judges, but we did report that prosecutors handling James Ibori's case said they were not perturbed by the antics of the Delta State government which had paid huge sums of money to militants and pressure groups to  overwhelm and intimidate the judge and anti-corruption police, in interviews with Saharareporters they  maintained that James Ibori was a flight risk since he had prior convictions for dishonesty and stealing in the UK in the early 90's and also multiple passports.

James Ibori case is adjourned till January 11 2008 while Fayose's case will come up on January 9 2008 in Lagos, they will both spend their Christmas and new year's behind bars.
 
As expected, James Ibori brought huge hired crowds to Kaduna to protest his detention and trial.

...PM News Reports from Kaduna

Breaking News : Ibori To Spend Xmas, New Year In Prison

  By Femi Adi/Kaduna

Hard times await former Delta State governor, James Ibori, as a Federal High Court in Kaduna, this morning, declined to grant him bail and fixed his trial for 11 January, 2008. The court also ordered that he be moved from the EFCC custody to prison custody until 11 January, when the case is expected to be given accelerated hearing.

Delivering his ruling in the bail application filed by Joseph Daudu (SAN), Ibori's counsel, this morning, Justice Mohammed Lawal Shuaibu, ruled that since there was no substantial evidence from Ibori to convince the court on his oral application for bail, he, therefore, rejected the application.

"The court has the desertion to grant bail to the accused or not, but since there was no material evidence provided by counsel to the accused, the oral application is hereby refused and accelerated hearing granted," Justice Shuaibu ruled.

After the ruling, counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Jacob, pleaded with the court to file proof of evidence against the 103-count charge against Ibori and his mistress, Uzoma Okoronkwo. Jacob also requested to file another 26 charges against the accused persons.

Ibori's counsel, Joseph Bodunrin (SAN), who kicked against the idea of filing proof of evidence against his clients, urged the court to stand down the application, which the court did accordingly.

In an interview with P.M.News, counsel to Ibori, Joseph Daudu (SAN), gave assurance that all efforts would be made within the law to seek Ibori's bail when the court resumes sitting in January.

Meanwhile, a large crowd of supporters of the former governor from Delta State, besieged the court this morning, asking the court to release him.

They carried placards with the inscriptions: "Ibori has always remained our leader, jailing Ibori can't kill resource control."

It took a reinforced team of policemen from the Kaduna State Police Command to stop the supporters from pulling down the gates leading to the courtroom wall, which was damaged by the supporters.

THE NEWS

EFCC Slams 51-Count Charge Against Fayose

By Akin Kuponiyi

2007/12/17

The former impeached Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, was arraigned this morning before a Federal High court on a 51-count charge of conversion, concealment, conspiracy and money laundering. In the charge filed before Justice Tijani Abubakar by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), prosecuting counsel, Mr. Wahab Shittu, the former impeached governor was alleged to have converted N20 million to build his house in Ibadan.

The N20 million was part of the money entrusted to Biological Concept Nigeria Limited, who is the consultant to the Ekiti State government.

On the Ekiti State Integrated Poultry Scheme, he was also accused of using N1.2 million for the design of the house while another N2.4 million he allegedly converted was used in purchasing Mercedes Benz for his mother.

In the fourth count of the charge, Mr. Fayose was also accused of converting N25 million which was for the Ekiti Integrated Poultry Project to build his house in Afao Ekiti.

In the remaining counts of the charge, the former governor was alleged to have procured Biological Concepts Nigeria Limited and a company called Avian Company and used their accounts to retain various sums of money running into millions of naira and in foreign currencies.

The monies, both in the local and foreign currencies, were alleged to be entrusted to the two companies for the Ekiti State Integrated Poultry Project.

The former governor pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

His counsel, Yusuf Alli, SAN, initially applied for bail orally but the court told him it would be better to file an application for bail.

The prosecuting counsel agreed with the court and urged the court to set a date for trial.

Meanwhile, Mr. Alli urged the court to remand Mr. Fayose in prison rather than EFCC cell. Mr. Shittu initially opposed the application but later conceded.

Consequently, Justice Tijani Abubakar, while adjourning the matter till 10 January, 2008 for trial.

He ordered that Fayose should be remanded in prison custody till then.

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