Too hot in the kitchen: Corrupt Aondoakaa flees Abuja for Senegal, Spain

Nigeria's controversial and notoriously corrupt public officer, Michael Aondoakaa, the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, who was recently demoted to the ignominy of cabinet “Special Duties,” may have fled the heat of the kitchen. Andoakaa, who is also under fire from a fellow minister, Dora Akunyili, over reckless statements he made over her actions in recent cabinet meetings, may not be in a position to respond to her seven-day ultimatum, which expires in five days. He quietly left for Senegal on Thursday night, apparently to avoid the consequences of his dubious errands on behalf of the kitchen cabinet, which began to crumble last week. The former AGF also faces mounting pressure from several interests that he extorted for cash as he went about his duties heavily compromised. A family source told Saharareporters in Abuja that his decision to travel out of Nigeria was abrupt as they were planning to meet with him in his hometown in Benue State this weekend, but Aondoakaa promptly traveled out of the country after he applied for a 30-day leave. It is unclear if the government approved the application before he left. Sources close to the Minister told our reporter that he lost his swagger and suddenly became fearful for his life after he was removed from office as AGF, choosing to run away to Dakar, one of his favorite destinations. He is expected to travel to Spain from Senegal until things cool down a bit. Aondoakaa’s disappearance is coming on the heels of the jetting-out of James Ibori, a kitchen-cabinet colleague, purportedly to spend Valentine's Day in Dubai and South Africa with his new girlfriend, Senami Sosu. His wife is in London, preparing to face trial, while his mistress, Mrs. Udoamaka Okoronkwo is also unavailable, as her trial commences in a right after Valentine's Day. It is believed that owing to the recent political developments, the kitchen cabinet members might have started considering other options, especially fleeing Nigeria.

Survivor describes Nazi camp at Demjanjuk trial

Jewish prisoners had to unload decomposed corpses at the Nazi death camp at Sobibor and were forbidden to warn new prisoners that they would be gassed within the hour, a survivor testified Thursday at the trial of John Demjanjuk.

The Ukrainian-born Demjanjuk, an 89-year-old retired Ohio autoworker, is accused of serving as a low-level guard at the Nazi camp in occupied Poland and is charged with accessory to murder in 27,900 deaths. Demjanjuk rejects the charges, saying he never served in Sobibor or any other Nazi camp.

Sobibor survivor Philip Bialowitz told the Munich state court that Jews being brought from western Europe largely believed the Nazi ruse that they were being resettled and arrived at the camp relieved that their long journey was over.

The 84-year-old testified that he and other Jewish prisoners helped unload the trains, under the watch of German SS and Ukrainian guards. Music was played over loudspeakers to keep the atmosphere calm.

"When I helped the Jewish passengers with their bags, some of them offered me a tip," said Bialowitz, who was born in Poland and now lives in New York. "My heart was bleeding because I knew that they would be dead in less than an hour and I couldn't warn them."

Chongqing suspects allege torture by police

Alleged gang bosses have claimed they were tortured by police or detained in illegal jails in order to extract confessions.

The allegations were made as the second wave of gang trials kicked off on Tuesday at the Chongqing No 2 intermediate people's court.

Chen Zhiyi and Deng Yuping, who are alleged to have run a 22-member mafia-style gang, said in court that the gang was not an organized one and they were either extorted into confessing or imprisoned in illegal jails by police.

Along with four other people with suspected connections to the gang, they are charged with 22 crimes including leading or participating in a mafia-style gang, killing three people and running illegal gambling dens.

More than 200 people heard the trial in court, mainly family members of the accused. Another 100 people gathered outside the court gate to hear live broadcast of the case.

"I admitted to the crimes after police from Fengjie county tortured me," said 43-year-old Chen in court yesterday morning.

43 EFCC On-Going High Profile Cases Etc

Dr (Mrs) Cecilia Ibru(Fmr CEO,Oceanic Bank PLC) FHC, Ikoyi, Lagos. Justice Dan Abutu Arraigned on 25 state counts. Plea taken and case adjourned to Nov for trial N160.2 Billion Suspect remanded in EFCC custody, but granted bail on 14/9/09 - Commenced by Waziri on Aug 31 2009.
On-Going High Profile Cases ECONOMIC & FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION, EFCC ON-GOING HIGH PROFILE CASES 2007- 2009 NAME TRIAL COURT CASE STATUS AMOUNT INVOLVED STATUS OF SUSPECT (S) REMARK 1. Ayo Fayose(Former Governor of Ekiti State) Fed. High Court, Lagos Arraigned on 51 state counts. Plea already taken but defence lawyer keeps filing frivolous applications for long adjournments to frustrate and prolong trial. N1.2 Billion granted bail by court since 2007 - Inherited Case filed since 17th Dec.2007 .2. Adenike Grange(Former Minister of Health) FCT. High Court Maitama Arraigned on 56 state counts. Plea already taken. Defence lawyer often seeks long adjournments to prolong trial. Matter adjourned to Oct 27 N300 million granted bail by court since 2008 - InheritedCase filed since 2nd April.2008 .3. Joshua Dariye(Former Governor Plateau State) FCT High CourtGudu Arraigned on 14 state counts. Plea already taken but defence lawyer challenged court jurisdiction.Case stalled at HC while on appeal for stay of trial.This is part of calculated attempt to prolong trial N700 Million granted bail by court since 2007 - InheritedCase filed since13th July 2007 .

Ibori's London trial resumes: Southwark Crown Court adjourns again till November 24(Part2)

Contrary to a report by The Guardian on Sunday of yesterday, November 8, erroneously stating that the trial in London of the three women associated with James Ibori had been postponed till November 16, 2009, the trial recommenced as scheduled today in London before Judge Christopher Hardy of the Southwark Crown Court.Last month, the case was adjourned to enable the Federal High Court in Asaba dispense of the application before it asking the court to quash the money laundering charges against Ibori, the former Delta State governor. The judge also deferred to the expected ruling from Asaba in adjourning the case today. On Sunday, the Nigeria Liberty Forum (NLF) had asked Nigerians in London to ignore the Guardian report and attend today's trial, describing the misleading report as a calculated attempt to confuse the public about the status of the trial today. Last Friday, the federal judge in Asaba, Justice Mercel Awokulehin, buckled under pressure from the public as it came to light that he had entered into a $5 million deal to quash 170-count charge against Ibori.

Jacques Chirac, former French president to be tried for corruption

Jacques Chirac, the former French president, has been ordered to stand trial on embezzlement charges over accusations he rewarded cronies with payments for non-existent jobs while mayor of Paris.
If the case goes ahead it will make Chirac the first holder of France's highest office to face a corruption trial.The Paris public prosecutor has previously said the charges should be thrown out and is expected to appeal against the ruling by an investigating magistrate, Xavière Simeoni, that the evidence against Chirac warrants a trial.
Chirac was mayor of the French capital between 1977 and 1995 before being elected to the Elyseé for 12 years. He is accused of having used his position as mayor to award 21 "ghost" contracts to his political aides and paying them from the city payroll.
Upon hearing news of Simeoni's recommendation, Chirac declared himself to be "serene" and "determined to prove" that the allegations are false.
Protected throughout his two terms as president by constitutional immunity, the 76-year-old political grandee's name has been mentioned in several alleged corruption controversies since he was succeeded by Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007.
The "sham jobs" affair, as the local media have dubbed it, is the first to have led to the prospect of him standing trial. The charges were first made in November 2007 and stem from 35 allegedly fictitious contracts awarded while and just after he was Paris mayor.