Written by Elombah.com
Wednesday, 21 September 2011 13:50

[elombah.com] Former Nigeria President, Olusegun Obasanjo told a US Ambassador that then Chief Judge of the High Court, Babatunde Mahmud Belgore was the most corrupt judge in Nigeria. Justice Belgore was the longest serving Chief Judge of the Federal High Court from where he retired. He was appointed the fourth Chief Judge of the Court on September 22, 1988. According to US Diplomatic cables published by the whistle
blowing website, wikileaks, Obasanjo made the remark in a breakfast meeting with Ambassador Howard F. Jeter in July 2001.

Obasanjo also said that in terms of performance, Late Yar'adua was his best governor, while Ibori was the worst.

The Ambassador told the former president that, in terms of counter-narcotics certification, the Embassy was working with the Ministry of Justice and others to develop a workable extradition process. One piece would include training for prosecutors, and perhaps some judges, to serve on an extradition court. However, Nigeria would have to create such a court. Ambassador Jeter asked if such a court could
be created.

But President Obasanjo responded that he would create it if allowed by the NDLEA enabling act. However, he said, Nigeria needed assistance in the form of training. In a dismissive response to a reference to AG Ige's and Chief Judge Belgore's statements that such a court could be created an animated Obasanjo said "Belgore is the most corrupt judge in Nigeria. I will have to be very careful
when I replace him in July."

The US Diplomatic cable further revealed that when Ambassador Jeter during the breakfast meeting to discuss President Obasanjo's visit to Washington, delivered reftel points on rendition and extradition, President Obasanjo made an exaggerated look of being taken aback and said, "Ssh! Don't even mention
renditions!"

The President quickly became serious, however, saying that the Chief Judge of the High Court (Justice Belgore) was clearly corrupt and that the Chief Justice (Justice Mohammed Uwais) knew it. However, Uwais and was not sure of best way to proceed since proving charges of corruption against Belgore would be difficult. The President stated that he very much wants Nigeria to follow the treaty-based extradition process. Ambassador Jeter asked if it would be possible to look into creating a "special panel" to hear extradition cases. The President said he thought it would be.

President Obasanjo, also jovially noting that it was good that the Ambassador was "getting out to visit Nigeria's different regions," began to order the States he believed the Ambassador should visit, based on his view of the quality of State leadership.

The President listed, in descending order, Katsina (Governor Yar'adua), Kaduna (Governor Makarfi - "he's
a good boy", Adamawa (Governor Haruna), Rivers (Governor Odili), Cross Rivers (Governor Duke), Bauchi (Governor Mu'azu), Plateau (Governor Dariye), Oyo (Governor Adesina - "Lam is the best of the AD governors", and Benue (Governor Akume).

Huffing, President Obasanjo then added that Delta State (Governor Ibori) and Edo State (Governor Igbinedion) were "the worst.