Deep desperation is beginning to set in for the James Ibori defence team at London's Southwark Crown Court. For the umpteenth time the lawyers representing associates of the beleaguered corrupt former governor at their money-laundering trial failed to sway Judge Christopher Hardy in their request to bar members of the public--particularly Nigerians in London--from attending the trial.
But as they pleaded, more Nigerians arrived to observe the trial. There were so many of them that the gallery overflowed. Many Nigerians were standing not only in the courtroom, but in the corridors.
One of those in attendance today was Ayo Obe, the former president of Nigeria's Civil Liberties Organization. She is visiting London to attend a conference and dropped by at the Wednesday proceedings in her private capacity. A Nigerian who recognized her offered his seat to her.
Ibori's desperate galaxy of lawyers deployed an arsenal of entreaties and innuendoes to try to get the Nigerian audience kicked out. One such underhanded approach was an argument that the the crowds in court may steal their defence documents. But instead of acceding to the bizarre plea, the judge, insisting that the case is of public interest, promised to consider a motion brought by a member of the public to expand the public gallery instead.
Nigerians in London, under the auspices of Respect Nigerians Coalition (RNC) and Nigeria Liberty Forum (NLF) have mobilized to attend the trials daily as a way of sending a strong signal to Abuja that the protection granted Ibori would no longer be tolerated.
In today’s ruling, Judge Hardy again rejected a defence counsel position that the Internet was being used to "harass and victimize" the accused persons. He reiterated that he could not control Internet publication of the proceedings.
Another development of interest today was the decision by the judge to return the accused persons to the dock to make room for the public. The accused persons--Ibori' sister, his secretary, and his mistress--have so far enjoyed the freedom to seat freely in the courtroom in the section reserved for the jury. Judge Hardy signalled today that that would change; the accused persons would seat in the dock with the freedom to move around, and with the door of the dock open.
Meanwhile, efforts by counsel to Ibori mistress Udoamaka Okoronkwo (Onuigbo) to present documents from the judge handling Ibori’s case in Asaba to convince the court that the sham trial in Asaba would be just and fair and that there was no need to try her in two jurisdictions concurrently for the same crime.
It is believed that Nigeria’s Attorney General, Michael Aondoakaa, has obtained fraudulent documents from the judge in Asaba and may have sent them to Ibori’s lawyers. The same judge in the Federal High court in Asaba, who was hand-picked by defendant Ibori, had earlier rejected a request by the London court to provide a guarantee that Onuigbo would be produced to face trial in London after the Asaba case would have wound up.
But the defence has an uphill task producing real case progress in Asaba as there is none. In his latest rant in the media, Ibori stopped short of announcing the judge's verdict by declaring that the evidence against him in court would not stand.
His lawyers have already applied for the case to be thrown out because according to them, the EFCC did not file witnesses in the proceedings. It would be recalled that when Ibori’s trial was going on in Kaduna, he mobilized and deployed militants to Kaduna in buses provided by the Delta State State government. The hired hands destroyed the fencing of the Federal High court there.
Those who attended the court hearing in London today noted that mistress Udoamaka's attitude had softened. Contrary to her arrogant, photo-posing performance in previous appearances, she appeared subdued today, as if someone has warned her that such behavior could hurt her case.
CASENOTES:
In the case of
Regina v Christine Omatie Ibori-Ibie
Adebimpe Folayinmi Pogoson
Udoamaka Onuigbo
(All James Ibori Associates)
@ Southwark Crown Court, London
30th September 2009.
Proceedings commenced at 11am prompt this morning. All the accused persons were in court along with there legal representatives.
Issues for the day:
1. Determination of the application for leave to appeal the ruling (refusal to declare the European Arrest warrant invalid on the ground of abuse of process by the Met. Police) of Judge Hardy at the Court of Appeal. The application for leave to appeal was rejected by Judge Hardy. His honour opined that the process on balance of probability was not manipulated through bad faith to warrant an appeal to the higher court. Way forward: The defence would now apply to the Court of Appeal for leave to appeal Judge Hardy’s ruling.
2. Determination of the defence application to stay proceedings in the UK until the determination of the case against James Ibori at the High Court in Asaba, Nigeria. Judge Hardy, last week requested written submissions from both parties on this application. Naturally, most of the evidence to support/argue against this application would originate from Nigeria. The Crown submitted written evidence from one Mr. Walters; the EFCC and Nuhu Ribadu amongst others. The defence on the other hand submitted written evidence from James Ibori’s lawyers in Nigeria; the Registrar of the Asaba High Court, etc. The Asaba HC registrar however was unable to release the status report to the defence this morning as the High Court Judge in Asaba who has to sign it off was busy with another case! Defence counsel promised the court that the said report would be available later in the day. It never materialised before the court rose at 3.30pm. As a result, Judge Hardy had to adjourn the matter till tomorrow morning in order to allow for all the necessary documentations to arrive from Nigeria.
3. Determination of the application of the defence to compel the prosecutor to disclose private emails communications between Mr. Walters (Met Officer) and some EFCC officials. Both parties argued their case vigorously. Judge Hardy rejected the defence counsel argument and refused to grant the application. His Honour is of the opinion that since Mr. Walters is due to give evidence, their would be ample opportunity for the defence top cross-examine him and elicit any information they deem appropriate
4. Judge Hardy commended Nigerians that have been observing the proceedings for their very good behaviour in court and promised to make even more seats available so that more people can observe the proceedings comfortably.
5. Judge Hardy also muted the idea of moving the defendants into the dock so as to make 3 extra seats available to members of the public! Nigerians in court applauded this particular suggestion by His Honour but the defence counsel pleaded passionately against it and the Judge decided to Keep It in View (KIV).
The case continued tomorrow.
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said:
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... How on earth do they (FG)give people jobs(MONEY)without coming back to ask what they ,ve done thats where the problems starts, from (FG-OBJ ORJI-UZO- IBORI STATE and LG) thats our country God helps those who help themsalves. If we can not help oursalves God can not help or save us. death sentence for the political-robbers enough is enough |
bigsam
said:
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... Defence Team are deploying same tactics they always deploy in Nigeria to stop a case from making meaningful progress. It indded shows that these people (Ibori and his cohorts) are desperate and have seen the writing on the wall that the net is closing fast. With 90% of his wealth frozen by authorities outside Nigeria, he is a broken man. If I were Yar Adua I would call his bluff.....after all once you spill the beans that is the worst you can do and I (Yar Adua) will then cut him down to size |
Dave Ojomo
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... What's the British case? Why have they collected almost a million of the laundered money to grant these people bail. do they want a share of the stolen money. Udoamaka was granted bail for £300, 000, the wife Teresa was granted bail for £2500,000, and others as well. Lets be careful with the British. |
Daoud Akano
said:
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... Shollyman's comment has just given me an idea of a spiritual weapon we can deploy alongside (offshore) legal recourse to fight the "chartered" thieves who have brought our country down to its belly: we fix widely publicised date and hour (say 11am, 12 noon...) at which all Nigerians shall stop whatever they are doing and observe a one minute in memory of Nigerians who have lost their lives and/or dignity due to bad governance and looting of our commonwealth and for one minute place a curse on the heads of all political past and present political office holders who have looted public funds one way or the other. I believe in the efficacy of prayers. They will all end up the Abacha way, in Jesus name and by the Almighty power of Allah. |
roni
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... shame on you delta state elders that sold their state because of dirty money that ibori was sharing 2 them now judge hardy got it hard on them and i dont hear them talking all that loud stuff about supporting ibori i they could be charged with conspiracy to theft. |
Chuka
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... Since it is the duty of the MET and The southwark Crown court to try and find Nigerians guilty....Let them remember that Ibori is one out of 11 governors on trial. If there aren't any desperate attempts to get the man, is it the usual practice to have the uk govt. try all similar cases with this level of exposure? There is more to this than meets the eyes.... |
Emmanuel (Canada)
said:
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... This Man Ibori should be in Jail before recruits another like himself. NO nation survive with people like him. Just read this cover story from NATIONAL DAILY Oct. Ist edition. http://www.nationaldailyngr.com/cover.htm God will save us from Ibori and PDP and bless Nigeria. |
Moh Bala
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... things are done according to the law in UK.... Ibori.... the courts in london will teach you a good lesson.... you will regret ever stealing money form delta state again..... shame!!!!! |
Johnson, New York
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... It is a shame to be a Nigerian but it is not a shame for Ibori because Nigeria's corrupt system made him a billionaire through stealing. |
Shollyman
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... 'just cant stop wondering how sweet Udoamaka Okoronkwo's toto must be to make brain rotten James 'onaolepo' Ibori to use her as a conduit pipe. Simple prayer: as Ibori has brought sadness to the lives of many people through forcefully taking what belongs to them, may God almighty take away all known cause of happiness in his life, including kids, wife, mistress, inlaws whom he spend the money on. May they not have eternal happiness and rest. All the days of their life they shall only know sorrow.... amen. Same to Gbenga Daniel, Alao Akala, Obasanjo and yaradua |
TruthHurts
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... First of all folks, I heard that James Ibori is an Urobo man from Delta state. If this is True then why should people be surprised. Have you heard of the name given to the urobo's. 'Urobo wayo' do not trust them at all so, in the case of IBORI what has stunned me but not surprised me is his late rant's in the media both accusing Nuhu Ribadu & also suggesting that Metropolitan police is in tanks with Nuru Ribadu to destroy his name is an insult to the Metropolitan Police. http://www.thetimesofnigeria.c...x?id=2190 This man is a complete thieve & he would do anything to paint a bogus picture against Nuhu Ribadu but what he failed to understand is that he cannot buy the British Justice system as well as he has bought the Judges in Asaba, the Attorney General & The president of Nigeria. Yaradua has destroyed the respect that i have for the office of the president by associating himself with this Ibori thieve. |
osayande*
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... Like the great man himself said: 'for England army no fit take over' Ibori and the other corrupt morons in Nigeria don't seem to understand what a civilised democracy is all about. It sickens me to note that I share a common nationality with those brian-dead low-lifers like Ibori, Kalu, Odilli, Yerima, Turaki, Fayose, Michael of Injustice etc |
Adedosu Adebayo
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... Let's wait for what the Newspapers in Nigeria will report as the proceedings. If it was a member of opposition that is being tried in the UK, the AGf will give full backing and the "dead" media will give it wide coverafe. Shameless people |
Moss Malone
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... Professor Dora Akunyili, Information and Communications Minister, has accused Nigerians in the Diaspora of talking down the country. Now who is trying to destroy the image of Nigeria? Ibori’s legal teams argue that the crowds in court, presumably all of them Nigerians, may steal their defence documents. What are they trying to infer? What a cheek? With such unwarranted inference, is it not clear that it is the politicians who are doing their best to paint Nigeria and Nigerians black? Is there no limit to what these morally bankrupt kleptomaniacs would do to get themselves out of the rotten jam they got themselves into? |
Ehyse
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... Why are they trying so hard to bar the Nigerian public and Nigerian reporters from attending this trial? Their attitude and behavior toward the charges they face, so far, has been arrogant, shameless and deplorable. They better remember this is not Nigeria's kangaroo court where anything goes, including presenting fake documents, bribery and the like. They need to face the fact that the roosters have come home to roost, and they need to face the music! Regardless of what they think, they are not above the law! |
JIMMY IWEALA
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... IBORI IS BUSY GOING ROUND NEWSPAPER HOUSES AND RADIO STATION TO CAST ASPERSION ON THE PERSON OF RIBADU AND ALSO PAINT HIMSELF A ROTTEN SAINT(LUCIFER)- WHO CARES TO KNOW IF RIBADU IS AN AMBITIOUS MAN? I FELT FOR SUN NEWSPAPERS EDITOR AND HIS ASSISTANT, WHILE THEY SAT WITH HIM IN HIS PRESS CONFERENCE. ANYWAY, BY THAT SINGULAR ACT, THE SUN IS DEAD AND BURRIED. MY PEOPLE PLEASE BOYCOTT SUN NEWSPAPERS,AIT,RAYPOWER,GUARDIAN,THISDAY,VANGUARD. RYTHYM FM TODAY ALSO AIRED HIS NEWS CONFERENCE IN A MANNER THAT SUGGEST TAKING SIDE(LETS WATCH RYTHYM FOR NOW). PLANTAIN TREES ARE USUALLY KILLED BY FIRST DETROYING ITS SUCKERS. LETS USE ALL AVALAIBLE MEANS TO KILL IBORI'S SUCKER. EVERYONE KEEP UP THE GOOD WORKS. THE YORUBA'S IN THE UK WHO ARE IN THE STRRUGGLE, PLEASE DON'T GET DISCOURAGED BY THE COMMENT OF PAID DELTA STATE AGENTS THERE IN THE UK. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. |
Aremu Okikiolu-Mathews
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... Judge Christopher Hardy is a God fearing judge who knows his onions. I pray that God grants him the wisdom of Solomon to dispense this case to the glory of God. And to the Nigerians attending the proceedings, I want to join the eminent Jurist in commending your dignified behaviour in his court. You are our worthy ambassadors and the desired brand for the new NIGERIA in the making. God bless you all. |
ade kayode
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... IBORI,FUGITIVE ROBBER!INTERNATIONAL THIEF THIEF!WANTED CRIMINAL!FRAUDSTER OF AFRICA!FACE OF CORRUPTION IN AFRICA!YOUR TIME IS UP!NO HIDDEN PLACE! 24/7 GLOBAL SEARCHLIGHT ON YOU AND YOUR FELLOW ROGUES TILL YOU ARE ALL PUT BEHIND BAR!JAIL IS YOUR PORTION AND FINAL DESTINATION!  |
Evans
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... MY ONLY ADVICE FOR IBORI, DO NOT SPEND ALL THE MONEY BECAUSE YOU MUST PAY BACK ATLEAST HALF OF IT, ASK ABACHA FAMILY THERE EXPERIENCE. FOR SURE YOU ARE JUST A PEA NUT WERE ABACHA IS. YOUR PADDY MAN WILL NOT BE IN POWER FOR EVER. HE IS EVEN BOND TO DIE SOON BECAUSE HE IS SICK. FORGET ALL THESE NONSENSE YOU AND AODUAKA IS DOING, DO YOU THINK NIGERIAN ARE FOOLS LIKE YOU ? RIBADU IS A FRIEND TO OBJ MORE THAN YOU, THIS IS A CLEAR FACT AND YOU CONFIRM IT. IG OF POLICE IS BY APPONTEMENT NOT BY ELECTION AND THE PRESIDENT HAVE THAT POWER NOT IBORI SO IF RIBADU WANTS THAT POST, HE WILL ASK FOR IT THROUGH HIS FRIEND OBJ NOT YOU ( IBORI ) SO YOU LIED |
paul akubue
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... i was at the court today. I was proud to see so many Nigerians in court today. We all have a duty in making sure that justice is done. God bless Nigeria! |
Nat Harry
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... GOD Bless Judge Hardy and Long Live the British prosecutors. Ibori started with his fiancee as a building material thief, moved further to credit card defrauder, then became Sani Abacha's Top Murderer, again commence with the building material thefts in Nigeria a case he bought over the Nigerian corrupt Supreme Court to discharge and temporally acquit him. Finally stole and emptied the Delta State Treasury. Ibori knows no life except criminality. James Ibori Shall rot in hell for the hardship he created in Delta State. Ibori in collaboration with Yaradua/Turai and Michael Aondoakaa have collectively destroyed what Obasanjo left of the Nigeria greedy and corrupt Judiciary |
odidigborigbo
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... Ibori obviously has many more cases to answer before God. Some believe he knows something about the gruesome murder of pa Rewane |
odidigborigbo
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... ibori has other cases to answer before God. Many believe he knew alot about the gruesome murder of Pa Rewane. The hen obviously has come home to roost |
Thomas Krukrubo UK
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... Ibori you and your family will never know peace. The Federal Allocations you and your fellow Niger Delta govenors got. Do you know what that money could have done for the people of not only Niger Delta but the whole country. Not to even talk of the taxes which the oil companies gave to all the niger delta states. You must answer that question everyone has been asking you, where is the money ?. I will never stop this agitation until you and your cohorts are in prison. If you cannot afford to come to London just say so, I can send you a virgin atlantic first class ticket. If you are afraid to sleep in your house in london, I can lodge you in premier hotel near the court premises; or I can even allow you to sleep in my garage. Soon it will be the turn of others:- Turaki, Yerima, Obasanjo, Kalu, Obong, dariye, uba, fayose etc bit by bit we will collect our country back from these miscreants. So that our children can have a better future than we had. |
Rob Naija (Frankfurt)
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... The AGF Aondoakaa wanted ibori n associates to be tried in nigeria,n this is how the justice system works in nigeria.a man was convicted to 6mths impreasonment in nigeria couple of yrs back said by a presiding judge for stealing,what did the man do? he just came out of the duck after the judge pronunced him guilty n red out his sentence then walk through the court room gently made it to the entrance without anybody to stop him and he walked home!! the people who came to court was telling the judge that the man is goin home n the judge ask what should i do,cos he hv done his own to pass a judgement leaving the rest to the police force to enforce the law..but u know what? there was no policeman in the court room to take the man to prison they were all at different checkpoints collecting 20, 20 naira.this is the typ of court that AGF is proposing for a criminal like ibori were they will celebrate him any court day with their ashiebi uniforms. |
Mr. B
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... Its like complaining your house has been robbed, meanwhile you know who the thieves are and you know they sell your stolen property to your own blood brother.You pretend you done know your brother is the one buying it but make a mad fuss about the man who sells it to him!lets not leave all our anger at Ibori only, we have to give equal measure to some significant entities in the Niger Delta.Where are all the elders?What is MEND saying? What are the youths with consciense saying? Untill i read an article in the newspapers that some Ijaw/NIger Delta NGO/Niger Delta leader is accusing Ibori, Odili, Alams of mismanagement and stealing,I will never take that region too serious. |
NaijaCat
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... Ibori you and your generations unborn are hereby cursed. Thief, thief, thief. We hate you |
Nathan
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... SR,Judge Hardy woke me up with his sensitive rulings. Maybe perchance our salvation will come from other places we did not envisage. Our leader had a chance to clean the filthy stable he inherited but it seems as if he is bidding his time! Let us wait and see. |
Shaibu
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... This is the west and there is no doubt that justice will be served in this case.. The verdict is there already for all to see.. the question is how much time will they serve in Jail?????? Finally they are facing justice in a civilized setting and for once this ladies and their boss James Ole Ibori are finding out that this is a real justice system not the one headed by that gorilla called the AGF of Nigeria - Aoondoaka. By the way where were all those tartared banners they displayed in front of the court house yesterday? The shameless thieves... |
OSOBA
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... IBORI WAS A CREDIT CARS FRAUDSTER IN LONDON BEFORE HE WENT TO NIGERIA MET ABACHA;S GOONS AND MADE PETTY MONEY BY STEALING BUILDING MATERIALS IN ABUJA. AN EX TWO TIME CONVICT, BECAME DELTA STATE GOVERNOR AND LOOTED THE STATE DRY. STARTED MAKING MORE MONEY BY SETTING UP ARMED GROUPS UNDER THE PRETENCE OF RESOURCE CONTROL TO BUNKER CRUDE OIL FOR HIM. A BLACKMAILER OF GOVERNMENT WITH THREST OF MILITANCY. BLACKMAILED OWNERS OF WILLBROS AND BOUGHT THEIR COMPANY IN PORT HARCOURT, BOUGHT NAFCON FERTILISER COMPANY ONNE BY BLACKMAIL WITH HIS FELLOW ROGUES LIKE JOE OBUE, HENRY IMASEKHA AND CO. INORI IS A BORN ROGUE AND CRIMINAL THAT MUST ROT IN JAIL NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES. SAHARA PLEASE DO NOT BULGE TO ANY THREAT FROM THES ROGUES. IBORI THE ROBBER!!! |
Balogun Adeusi
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... So far, i have not found any pro-ibori blogger here. my fellow Nigerians, let keep the struggle going since it is the ONLY opportunity we have to teach the rest of leaders like ibori. Obasanjo and other fool pushed us into this monsense. I hope his own case too would soon be coming up maybe before the United Nation for GENOCIDE he committed agaisnt the people of ODI. SR, keep the battle on we're here no bullet will meet us! Any, we are more knowledgeable than the old fools plus internet. This is our tool, it's our right to protest against these thieves eating away our future. |
Tayo Ayeni
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... what an inept country Nigeria surpassed by only a few other mikey mouse republics. I seriously doubt whether there is any hope for completely bereft of any moral standing. We can only look at our Colonialists to serve a modicum of justice to the long suffering masses At 49 year old with no direction is no Man. At 49 Nigeria is no nation!!!! Shame on Us !!!! |
Dagogo Jay
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... For Iboris lawyers who are complaining about Nigerians harassing their master on the Internet,Nigerians are saying all these things not because we are engineered to Offend, rather because your dumb master Ibori has crossed the line of Greed, Avarice and Corruption. He must be stopped!So fellows get it now that he is being humiliated in the court of public opinion for CRIMES he committed against society! Another Judgement is coming soon, u just wait. Just get the case going and stop wasting our precious time. |
Dagogo Jay
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... Ibori's lawyers are becoming very desperate like their paymaster.But people, don't let Ibori pull the wools over your eyes.The more this devious con man tries to ''defend'' himself, the more we get to know about his other criminal exploits. Owns Texaco Petroleum in Benin,300 millionU S dollars of Delta State money unaccounted for!This, coming from an Elder statesman like Chief Edwin Clark from his own state is quiet revealing.Ibori's feeble attempt at defending himself was a big joke. He is cornered, his back is now against the wall and this vicious criminal will do anything to make it look like RIBADU is the problem. Sorry Guy, he is not, you are the problem, MORON! |
Edesiri
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... It's surprising that Delta State Elders and Leaders of thought had been silent so far. Meanwhile it is Delta State people's money that we are all talking about. It is because of Delta State people's money that Ribadu is being hounded all around. How can a people be so cowardly and spineless they can't even pick up a fight that rightly belongs to them. It's real shame! Ibori was a pauper and common criminal with nothing before 1999. He had no known business but low life stealing, he was left no big money legacy by his father or mother, he was not known to have won any lottery in Nigeria or the UK, so where is his sudden wealth from but the common patrimony of Delta State people. Yet, Delta State leaders of thought are not saying anything. |
GWIFOUS
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... Wonders shall never end. A clear conscience fears no accusation. The matter is a public one, so why ban Nigerians from attending the court proceedings. It is the peoples right. please remember God does not sleep nor slumber. We will know the Truth in this case o, no matter how long it takes. |
texbee
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... Its a matter of time before Ibori comes to roast but for the associates they will rot in prison. Ibori may hibernate under the canopy of Yardua for now but not forever. He will rather want to be in gulag in America or UK than to be in grave in nigeria when the time comes.It may be by Mutiny,revolution,or personal sickness that he will need oversea treatment for. |
blizy
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... This is not Nigeria where even police can beat up a magistrate judge . pls defense counsel lets allow the case flow. time is of essence.if they are found guilty the court in uk will not accept plea bargain or sentence terms to run concurrent wit when the case started. a word is enough for the wise. |
PREYE IBISO
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... BECAUSE OF TOTO ,THIS SHAMELESS MAN CALLED IBORI DISTRIBUTED DELTA STATE MONEY AMONG DIFFRENT KIND OF WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD.....WHAT A USELESS MAN |
