Federal Kangaroo Court, Asaba, Delta State
If Nigerians truly want to know what a kangaroo court looks like, they need look no further than the Asaba Federal Hight Court of Justice Mercel Awokulehin.
Yesterday, for instance, Justice Awokulehin suddenly sent a summon to the lawyers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Sunday to appear before it to hear the substantive argument over a motion by James Ibori’s requesting the judge to quash his trial in the money-laundering case against him.
Yesterday was a Sunday, a non-working day. Following the summons, and without public notice, the case was called this morning in Asaba.
These developments are part of the inexorable conspiracy to let Ibori avoid justice in Nigeria. That would, in turn, help his criminal associates who face a similar trial in England enjoy similar flight from justice from the law. Only last week, Justice Christopher Hardy of the Southwark Crown Court adjourned proceedings in the trial before him to enable the hearings in Asaba to be completed.
When that case was called in Asaba today, lawyers representing Ibori and the EFCC engaged in a less than stellar adoption of “address” before the court regarding Ibori’s motion. Judge Awokulehin subsequently adjourned till November 6th 2009, three days before the re-commencement of the London trial of Ibori associates at the Southwark Crown Court.
As Saharareporters has already revealed, the Asaba trial has been plotted to end on that particular date, with a pre-determined, far-reaching ruling by Justice Awokulehin to the effect that he has terminated all money laundering, corruption and theft charges against Ibori and his associates.
According to the match plan, of which Nigeria's federal authorities at the highest level are part, that ruling would then be presented in London with a fresh motion to quash the trial of Ibori’s associates.
To guarantee the outcome, Justice Awokulehin was hand-picked by Ibori for the Asaba "trial." For his starring role in the drama, he has been paid $5 million through a Singaporean route.
Yesterday was a Sunday, a non-working day. Following the summons, and without public notice, the case was called this morning in Asaba.
These developments are part of the inexorable conspiracy to let Ibori avoid justice in Nigeria. That would, in turn, help his criminal associates who face a similar trial in England enjoy similar flight from justice from the law. Only last week, Justice Christopher Hardy of the Southwark Crown Court adjourned proceedings in the trial before him to enable the hearings in Asaba to be completed.
When that case was called in Asaba today, lawyers representing Ibori and the EFCC engaged in a less than stellar adoption of “address” before the court regarding Ibori’s motion. Judge Awokulehin subsequently adjourned till November 6th 2009, three days before the re-commencement of the London trial of Ibori associates at the Southwark Crown Court.
As Saharareporters has already revealed, the Asaba trial has been plotted to end on that particular date, with a pre-determined, far-reaching ruling by Justice Awokulehin to the effect that he has terminated all money laundering, corruption and theft charges against Ibori and his associates.
According to the match plan, of which Nigeria's federal authorities at the highest level are part, that ruling would then be presented in London with a fresh motion to quash the trial of Ibori’s associates.
To guarantee the outcome, Justice Awokulehin was hand-picked by Ibori for the Asaba "trial." For his starring role in the drama, he has been paid $5 million through a Singaporean route.
No comments:
Post a Comment