CACOL files fresh petition against Ibori's "Kangaroo judge" and the former chief judge of the federal high court

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has called on the National Judicial Council, (NJC), through the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Idris Kutigi, to kick Justice Marcel Awokulehin off the James Ibori kangaroo trial in Asaba.
In a follow-up petition dated 11 December, CACOL drew the attention of the NJC to the abominable misconduct of Justice Abdullahi Mustapha, the former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, and Awokulehin.
It said that removing Awokulehin from the case is the right thing to do as whatever decision the judge takes would be wanting in credibility and embarrass the judiciary.
Recalling the embarrassing history of the Ibori trial, the Coalition called upon Justice Kutigi, “in the name of all that is good, not to allow Mr. Justice Awokulehin deliver a ruling that would cast aspersions on the neutrality of the bench in this case, and thereby erode people’s confidence in the judiciary as an arm of government that is expected to be the last sanctuary of hope for the oppressed. In the petition, which was copied to The President; the President of the Senate; the Honourable Speaker, House of Representatives; the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation; and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, CACOL called on the NJC to intervene before the matter becomes a national embarrassment. Justice Awokulehin is scheduled to deliver a judgement quashing Ibori's money laundering charges on December 16 2009. Ibori paid the judge $5 million for the "ruling" seeking to quash 170-count charges filed against him by the EFCC.

Statement on developments with the Ibori trial at Asaba, Nigeria and the adjournment of the case against his associates at Southwark Crown Court

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, Respect Nigerians Coalition as an organization believes in the inviolable principle of civilized justice, which states that every accused person is innocent until proven guilty. So, on that basis, we have no case against James Ibori, the former Governor of Delta State and his sister and associates on trial in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, because, as far as we know, they are yet to be convicted of any offence. However, we do have serious reservations about how the case against Ibori is being conducted in Asaba, Nigeria. We have followed the case closely and strongly believe that it is a sad example of how a case should not be prosecuted, defended or adjudicated.As citizens and stakeholders in the wellbeing of our nation, we, like most Nigerians, feel very strongly about the issue of political or public sector corruption and the obvious harm it’s done and is still doing to our body politic. Indeed, it is something that hardworking and law-abiding citizens of every nation must take seriously. For instance, figures released by the United Nations just a few days ago indicate that political corruption costs countries as much as £951 billion ($1.6 trillion) every year! It is nothing short of crime against humanity, because it not only kills development, it kills people en mass! As defenders of the integrity of Nigeria and Nigerians, be they at home or abroad, we believe that such a disease that has blighted the life of our nation so terribly must be fought to a standstill in any forum.

Petition over the involvement of Hon. Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour in ca/l/866m/2009: Chief Olabode George & ors v f.r.n.

We are solicitors to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that is the Respondent in the above-mentioned appeal (prosecuting on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria). We write on its behalf.

My Lord, on Monday, October 26, 2009, a Lagos High Court (Criminal Division) presided by the Hon. Justice Olubunmi Oyewole gave judgment in Charge No. ID/71C/08 in which the Appellants above, (who were Defendants at the Court below) were found guilty on 47-Counts of offences bothering on abuse of office (by splitting contracts in public office), disobedience of lawful orders, and conspiracy. They were sentenced to two years for some of the offences and six months for some others - all to run concurrently.

Pursuant to their constitutional right, they have appealed to this Honourable Court by filing Notices of Appeal at the Court below. They also simultaneously filed motions for bail at the lower court, pending their appeal. However, on Monday, November 9, 2009, the lower court, presided over by Justice Olubunmi Oyewole dismissed all the applications.

N35b loan scam: ICPC summons Yuguda

Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda visited the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanuel Ayoola (rtd), at the weekend.
The secret visit might not be unconnected with a petition on the alleged diversion of a N35billion loan the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the ICPC is probing.
Yuguda arrived at the ICPC headquarters, without the paraphernalia of office, at about 11.05am in a blue Honda car last Friday.
He headed straight for the office of the ICPC chairman.
It was gathered that a bewildered Justice Ayoola suspended his official duties for a closed-door 45-minute session with the governor.
Justice Ayoola repeatedly asked some of his close aides what informed the sudden visit, The Nation learnt.
After the exit of the governor, Justice Ayoola summoned some heads of department to find out if they were handling any case involving the Bauchi State government because he could not "fathom what informed the secret visit".
A source said the Head of the Unit told the ICPC chairman of an ongoing probe of a petition on the alleged diversion of a N35billion loan.
According to findings, the petitioner had alleged that the loan, which was meant for infrastructure, had been diverted "under the guise of security vote".

Bankole, Deputy Buy 18 Bullet-proof Vehicles - Each Costs N85m

Honourable Dimeji Bankole, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and his deputy, Honourable Usman Bayero Nafada, are said to have acquired nine bullet-proof cars each for their official use and in preparation for 2011 governorship elections in their respective states.
Bankole is from Ogun State while Nafada is from Gombe. Their governors are respectively serving second terms and their seats will be vacant in 2011.
The Speaker had, on many occassions, denied eyeing the governorship seat, but sources in his state have continued to link him with a possible shot at the Ogun Government House. The multi-million naira vehicles are now in Abuja, while the presiding officers sometimes put some of the cars in their official fleet.
Sources confirmed in Abuja that each of the vehicles was acquired for between N50 and N85 million and that the deputy speaker, most of the times, acted as a catalyst for the acquisition.It was also gathered in Abuja that the cars are mostly parked at a rented apartment being used as a Guest House by the Speaker.
Saturday Tribune reports that the speaker acquired the first bullet-proof car shortly after he resumed office in November, 2007, adding that the car was in his fleet during his first official trip to Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.It was gathered that because of the sensitive nature of the cars, the National Assembly had, through the outgoing Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA), Alhaji Nasiru Arab, requested for End Users Certificate (EUC) from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to ensure the clearance of the first bullet-proof car acquired for the Speaker.