The Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, is set to re-arrest and prosecute a former
Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, who will return to the country
after completion of his prison sentence in Britain on December 20, 2016.Barring last minute changes, the former governor will be arraigned on 170 charges bordering on money laundering and corruption.A Southwark Crown court had on April 17, 2012, sentenced Ibori to 13
years in prison after the ex-governor pleaded guilty to 10 counts of
money laundering and stealing $250m from the treasury.Following his conviction in the UK, there were criticisms of the
Nigerian justice system, especially an Asaba High Court which had struck
out 170 charges which the EFCC had brought against Ibori.However, the EFCC took the matter to the Appeal Court where a
three-man panel of justices on May 15, 2014, at the Benin Division of
the Court of Appeal ruled that the ex- governor, who is currently
serving a 13-year jail term in a London prison, has a case to answer.The appellate court panel, led by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, ordered
that the case be re-assigned to another judge of the Federal High Court
for continuation of trial.The EFCC subsequently said in a statement in 2014 that the
ex-governor would be re-arrested upon the completion of his prison
sentence.The EFCC statement read, “With this judgment, the coast is clear for
Ibori to face trial in Nigeria upon the completion of his jail term in
London.”However, an EFCC source told the Punch that the legal department of the commission would have to look into the matter again.He said, “Indeed Ibori still has a case to answer but it will be reviewed and charges might be amended.”However, Chairman of Presidential Advisory Committee Against
Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, SAN, also told Punch that there was no
need prosecuting Ibori again.Sagay, speaking in his personal capacity, said that Ibori had already
been punished and prosecuting him again could amount to human rights
abuse.
Monday, December 5, 2016
Ibori To Face 170 Charges In Nigeria On Completion Of UK Jail Term
The Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, is set to re-arrest and prosecute a former
Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, who will return to the country
after completion of his prison sentence in Britain on December 20, 2016.Barring last minute changes, the former governor will be arraigned on 170 charges bordering on money laundering and corruption.A Southwark Crown court had on April 17, 2012, sentenced Ibori to 13
years in prison after the ex-governor pleaded guilty to 10 counts of
money laundering and stealing $250m from the treasury.Following his conviction in the UK, there were criticisms of the
Nigerian justice system, especially an Asaba High Court which had struck
out 170 charges which the EFCC had brought against Ibori.However, the EFCC took the matter to the Appeal Court where a
three-man panel of justices on May 15, 2014, at the Benin Division of
the Court of Appeal ruled that the ex- governor, who is currently
serving a 13-year jail term in a London prison, has a case to answer.The appellate court panel, led by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, ordered
that the case be re-assigned to another judge of the Federal High Court
for continuation of trial.The EFCC subsequently said in a statement in 2014 that the
ex-governor would be re-arrested upon the completion of his prison
sentence.The EFCC statement read, “With this judgment, the coast is clear for
Ibori to face trial in Nigeria upon the completion of his jail term in
London.”However, an EFCC source told the Punch that the legal department of the commission would have to look into the matter again.He said, “Indeed Ibori still has a case to answer but it will be reviewed and charges might be amended.”However, Chairman of Presidential Advisory Committee Against
Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, SAN, also told Punch that there was no
need prosecuting Ibori again.Sagay, speaking in his personal capacity, said that Ibori had already
been punished and prosecuting him again could amount to human rights
abuse.
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