Ibori, not ordered to report to Police ---Aide
*James Ibori
(Nigeria) Chief James Ibori, released from jail on Wednesday, was not placed under any Police restrictions and does not have to report to the Police at all.
According to a statement by Ibori’s Media Assistant, Tony
Eluemunor, Ibori was not placed under and Police surveillance with intent to
monitor his movements.
Even a British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, report of
Wednesday, entitled “Nigerian ex-Governor James Ibori released from UK jail”
stated that much: “On Wednesday, the Home Office's barrister said the
government was concerned that Ibori might ‘frustrate confiscation proceedings'
and wanted him kept in jail or subject to strict controls on his movement. A Home Office application that Ibori be
electronically tagged and subject to strict curfew conditions was also rejected
after the judge accepted arguments that the home secretary was attempting to
misuse her immigration and deportation powers.”
Eluemunor said the need to issue such clarification arose
from the conflicting reports in several media organisations over the terms
guiding his release. A mischievous on-line publication misled many Nigerians
into believing that Ibori would wear an ankle tag that would beam his
whereabouts to the Police and also report weekly to the Police. But from the
quoted BBC report, no such order ever came from the court but from some corrupt
and corrupting minds.
“In fact, the BBC, quoting the Judge, Her Honour, Mrs.
Justice Juliet May, Queen’s counsel, said: "The position of the Secretary
of State, as very candidly set out by MrBirdling (representing the home
secretary), is that she accepts that there is an argument that she has no power
to detain him.
"I have decided that the balance of convenience falls
heavily in favour of his (Ibori’s) immediate release. I am not prepared to
impose conditions involving tagging or curfews."
According to the statement, “Chief Ibori has given every
thanks and glory to the Almighty God, for making his release from jail
possible, despite the last-minute obstacle the British Secretary of State
placed on his way. He is grateful to his team of lawyers who fought gallantly
for his release.
“He sent his heart-felt gratitude to the dozens of
mainstream news organisations, especially in Britain and Nigeria, that trained
attention on the relentless persecution, instead of prosecution, he was
receiving and which also led to the investigation of those who had earlier
investigated and prosecuted him; the result was a far-reaching corruption
indictments within such agencies. That was when the Director of Public
Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, heeding the call of the journalists, demanded a
review of the evidence following allegations that police took bribes and
prosecutors covered it up.
"The review team found material to support the
assertion that a police officer received payment in return for
information," the CPS admitted in September, the BBC reported.
“Beyond all else, Ibori thanks his teeming supporters across
the country for standing behind him all through his travails. Specially, he thanks Niger Deltans for
standing solidly behind him and assured them that the justice and equity they
seek both for themselves and others in a peaceful, united, prosperous and just
Nigeria will one day be achieved.”
Eluemunor added that many Nigerians may not appreciate the
depth of the legal victory Ibori achieved on Wednesday.
“A different verdict would have sent him into an indefinite
detention, because the confiscation hearing the British Home Secretary wanted
to detain Ibori for until it is concluded is a second one. The first one ended
September 2013, with no proof of theft of any money from Delta State. Just when
judgment was to be given, the prosecution asked for a retrial just because they
had no evidence of any theft.
“Surprisingly, the court granted them their wish. Or as
Vanguard newspaper published on October 8, 2013, “Assets confiscation: UK court orders retrial
of Ibori’s Case: A United Kingdom court yesterday ordered a retrial of assets
confiscation case against former Governor James Ibori of Delta State to enable
the prosecution gather enough evidence.
“The London Metropolitan Police which is prosecuting the
former governor had admitted in open court on the last day of the hearing that
they lacked enough evidence to support
allegations of fraud, corruption and money laundering against Ibori. The
trial judge, Mr Anthony Pitts, therefore granted the Crown Prosecution’s
request and adjourned for a retrial after both the prosecution and defence have
made their final submissions in the hearing which was supposed to end
yesterday.
“Reacting to Judge Anthony Pitts’ judgment, James Ibori said
“after eight years of criminal investigations, five adjournments and over 50
trips to Nigeria, the prosecution failed to provide any tangible evidence to
support their claim that I defrauded Delta State. Their case collapsed to such
an extent that on the very last day of a three weeks hearing, they were humbled
into making an application to the judge for permission to start again which the
Judge unceremoniously granted.”
“Now that Ibori’s associates in the case, especially Mr.
Bhadresh Gohil, has appealed his conviction, and Ibori’s lawyers are
considering going on appeal too, the appeals will have to end before the
confiscation hearing may ever begin. Also, nobody knows how long they may last;
so Ibori would have remained indefinitely in detention. His freedom from this
indefinite detention is the essence of Wednesday’s victory. And if the appeals
are sustained, there will be no confiscation hearing at all,” the statement
added.
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