Kutigi queries judge handling Ibori case

By Nicholas Ibekwe

October 30, 2009 01:55AMT

The Chief Justice of Nigeria and chairperson of the National Judicial Council, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi has directed the High Court judge handling the case between the Federal Republic of Nigeria versus James Ibori and others to formally reply the petition against him by the chairperson of the Coalition against Corrupt Leaders, Debo Adeniran.Mr. Kutigi gave the order in a letter dated October 21, 2009 in which he noted that, "The petition speaks for itself.


I shall be glad to have your comments within two weeks of the receipt of this letter, please."Gross misconduct On October 19, 2008, Mr. Adeniran had written a petition titled "Gross misconduct on the part of the Federal High Court Judge in the case of FRN VS James Ibori and ANOR" in which he expressed concerns over the actions of the trial judge in the Federal High Court, Asaba who had sometimes in October 2009, allegedly sent a letter to the court handling Mr. Ibori's case in London. Mr. Adeniran claimed that the trial judge had informed the court in London "that the case at the Federal High Court Asaba will be disposed of at the next adjourned date on October 26, 2009." He also said the judge forced the case involving Mr. Ibori forward by calling lawyers on phone to appear before him on October 12. On that date, the application of the accused challenging the 170-count charge against him was taken and the ruling fixed for November 6, 2009. The coalition claimed that it had confirmed that based on the information forwarded to London, the 170-count charge against Mr. Ibori will be dismissed on November 6, 2009, which will lead to the automatic dismissal of the case fixed for November 9 in London.The coalition said that there is no provision in the Criminal Procedure Act for the exchange of letters between a trial court in Nigeria and a foreign court and urged the National Judicial Council to investigate the circumstances surrounding the letter written to London by the Federal High Court, Asaba.

It alleged that the trial judge erred by disclosing to a foreign court in advance that all charges against Mr. Ibori would be dismissed on a particular date even before the commencement of trial, and prayed the National Judicial Council to "call the trial judge to order and transfer the case to another judge in the Federal High Court without any further delay." With the directive from Mr. Kutigi however, the trial judge now has up to Nov 4, five days to the date he had earlier fixed for judgment on the Ibori case, to respond.

Good news. Another big fish might soon be caught, after Bode George.
Things are getting better.

I hope RossIke is reading this! So much for a tranquil Nigeria!

I dont know why ibori's case is being delayed,,,in as much as the judiciary is living up to its expectation,i expect ibori to be jailed too