•He is an amiable gentleman, says Ribadu
•Ribadu sought my help to become IG –Ibori
By Austin Oboh Snr Correspondent, Lagos.
The confiscation of assets hearing of former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, turned dramatic as it entered its 6th day in a London court on Monday when the Crown Prosecution accepted that they relied on
forged and falsified documents, letters and ledgers obtained from Arlington Sharmas solicitors to nail him (Ibori). Peter Clark, who led the British police financial investigation into Ibori’s money laundering case
said while being cross examined by Ibori’s lawyers that Bhadresh Gohil, a convicted solicitor, had forged, backdated and falsified documents and letters with as much as six years gap between documents and the dates the documents were actually said to refer. When Ibori’s counsel, Krolic, directly asked if
Gohil’s documents which were used against Ibori were actually “not genuine documents as they never existed in reality”, DC Clark answered: “correct”.
Krolic continued: “You as an experienced financial investigator, you will not be impressed by this ledger created six years before the actual dates it referred to” (the financial statements created by Gohil to prosecute James Ibori). DC Clark said: “I would not be impressed.” Krolic then addressed the court: “The prosecution
chief witness, DC Peter Clark has said Crown
Prosecution relied on documents they knew were not genuine, true and accurate to prosecute James Ibori.

In any judgement, such documents are not admissible against an accused as they are unreliable and not genuine.” Facing Clark, a British Police Officer, he asked: “In the
course of your investigation, reference to the
documents tendered by the prosecution being used in the court in the cross examination, did you find any letter signed by James Ibori?” Clark: “No.” Krolic: “What is the source of your allegation that
Ken Oil and Gas transferred funds on behalf of James Ibori? Are you saying your source is from the tainted and forged records kept by Gohil?” Clark: “Yes.” Krolic: “These are all fake letters, aren’t they?” Clark: “Yes.” Krolic not satisfied by the admission of the
prosecution that the documents used against Ibori were fake, forged and cannot be relied upon, pressed on: “It is not only that Mr. Gohil created fake letters, do you also agree he also created fake responses claimed to be from his client?” Clark: “Yes.” Krolic: “While reviewing the consolidated account with the names James Ibori, Victor Attah, Opobo and Samutete, did you find out, or was there any clear indication anywhere that the monies in the ledger
came from James Ibori?” Clark: “No… apart from the ledgers.” Krolic: “So the funds in this account did not indicate from whom the money came?” Clark: “It is from the consolidated ledger.” Krolic: “No this is a ledger created by Mr Gohill – for whatever reason he chose to do it?” Clark: “Yes.” Reacting to the development in the court after the court proceeding, Ibori’s solicitor, Jonathan Epelle, said “it must be obvious to all that the whole foundation of the prosecution case is built upon conjecture, half truths and fabrication. “This is a proverbial house built on sand, with no solid foundation.” Bhadresh Gohill, whose forged documents were used in nailing Ibori was actually at a time Ibori’s own lawyer.
Meanwhile, erstwhile Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, also told the court that Ibori might have pleaded guilty to some of the charges against him during his investigation “he is an amiable gentleman who means well.” Ribadu who was in London to give evidence in the $15
million bribery allegation against Ibori spoke
glowingly of the man he was supposed to testify
against to the surprise of everybody in the court. Speaking about Ibori as if under some kind of unseen influence, Ribadu said “James is a gentleman, he is very friendly, very persuasive and cordial with people around him.” He added: “He (Ibori) is a very influential man… we both have same friends and meet at almost same
places very often.” Asked by QC Krolic, Ibori’s counsel, to mention those places they normally meet, Ribadu said “the President’s office, airports, his friends’ places.” Surprised that Ribadu told the court that he and Ibori
usually met at Ibori’s friends’ places, QC Krolic
asked, “At his (Ibori’s) friends’ places?” Ribadu retorted: “Yes, Abuja is a very small place, besides, these are people in government that I also relate with.” Ribadu who referred to Ibori by his first name, James, throughout the time of the cross examination, an indication of jolly friendship, told the court further:
“We were speaking very often, James will call my phone and I will answer him.” Ribadu added: “He (James) used to call me IG
(Inspector General of Police)… he would tell me he
means well.” In an affidavit sworn to by Ibori, he said of Ribadu:
“Mr Ribadu covertly joined in the efforts to nullify the Presidential elections of Yar’Adua at the tribunal because the President, Musa Yar’Adua, has declined overtures by Mr Ribadu to clinch the coveted job of Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police (IG).” Ibori continued in the affidavit: “Ribadu approached
me to speak to the new President to appoint him the IG of police of Nigeria. I promised to help take his message to Mr President. “I did subsequently mention Mr Ribadu’s request to
President Yar’Adua, but the President turned it
down.

Well yar radua is a common thief fraudster and a clueless idiot that was second in command of the country. His wife ruled Nigeria not him.

If he no steal mek una free am

It's quite clear how ibori was nailed...

James is coming out SOON!

People are beginning to make amends because it appears the guy James has alot of money left!
They tried so much but could ONLY get small small change.

I am worried about what will happen when James leaves prison still A VERY RICH MAN

Can this confession really be trusted? Never underestimate the influencial power of Ibori's roots. Anything is possible

Hahahaha...something is not adding up! Conspiracy on a higher level. Ribadu has shown his true colour again. He should queue up behind Alams and co.

This is beyond our physical eyes...ETT sha.

When those you trust team up with your enemies behind your back, your fate is sealed, only God can save you.

Ibori's lawyer forged documents to get him jailed. What conspiracy can be greater than that?

Anyway whatever they say, Ibori remains the best governor delta state has ever had in it's 22yrs of existence.

They must have teamed up and tricked him into pleading guilty to a lesser charge of money laundry with a promise of a light sentence, only to slam a 13yrs jail term on him.

It is good Ibori has decided to avoid their kangaroo confiscation hearing. Let them impound his 9million pounds assets and feel big about it

T.B. Joshua's prophecy as reported by sahara reporters has come to pass...

People were wondering how it would be possible to release Ibori after releasing Al mustapha... Considering the fact that he wasnt being tried in Nigeria..

GEJ till 2019...