Notwithstanding all the abracadabra of former Governor James Onanefe Ibori of Delta State to get off the hook of alleged corruption charges against him, all may not yet be over as the ire of justice is about to grab hold of him, moreso as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is not resting on its oars to prosecute the self-styled Odidigborigbo of Africa for alleged embezzlement of public funds and money-laundering offences to a plausible conclusion.
Ibori is suspected to have pocketed about N200 Billion from the Delta State coffers while in office as Governor of the State between May 29, 1999- May 29, 2007. Sensing the fury of the EFCC to have caught up with him in August and September 2007, the dexterous criminally-minded former Governor took off from the country to South Africa and from South Africa to the United States of America (USA) despite his legal travelling documents being seized by the EFCC.
Ibori is also being investigated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Specialist Crimes Directorate of Metropolitan Police in London over allegation of money-laundering.
The Southwark Crown Court had on Thursday, August 2, 2007, granted an order freezing Ibori’s assets worth over 20 million pounds (N5.2 Billion) in London; but the assets were defreezen on Monday, October 1, following a letter written by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), to the counsel representing Ibori at the Court of Appeal in London, saying the allegation of financial misappropriation of public funds against Ibori had not been convincingly proved in court. The Appeal Court acting upon the Attorney-General’s claim, released the assets which were earlier seized. But the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) went on appeal against the judgement defreezing Ibori’s assets; and when the case came up on Friday, October 12, Lord Justice Thomas of the Appeal Court reaffirmed the order freezing the assets pending the determination of the appeal slated for November.
Meanwhile, when the Court defreezed Ibori’s assets, Delta State Government under the leadership of Ibori’s cousin, Governor Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, went on thanksgiving and merriment, spending the State funds in dribs and drabs over what it described as a “victory well-deserved.”
Uduaghan had on Wednesday, October 10, secured an interim order from a Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State capital, restraining the EFCC, its agents, servants and/or privies from probing into Delta State books, accounts and activities and/or carrying out any investigation, arresting or detaining Ibori and other former and present corrupt office holders in Delta State. Uduaghan was also said to have led his deputy, Prof. Amos Uduama, top government officials of the state and chieftains of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to a forum presided over by Ibori at the latter’s countryhome in Oghara, headquarters of Ethiope West local government area of the state, which brainstormed on charges of corruption levelled against Ibori, saying, “we cannot abandon him (Ibori) at this point in time because he made a lot of us; the forum believed that our leader is being prosecuted for political reasons.”
But when the date for hearing of the “Motion on Notice” came up recently, the Attorney-General and the EFCC challenged the court injunction on Ibori and other corrupt officials, arguing that the Court lacked the jurisdiction to consider the substantive “as it had no judicial power to confer immunity on persons reasonably suspected to have committed serious economic and financial crimes.”
According to the Federal Government and the EFCC, EFCC Act 2004 gives the Commission powers to look into past and serving officials of the State Government, and that the Federal High Court lacked the competence to thwart the Commission from carrying out its constitutional duties and functions, contending, “the orders violate several decisions of the Supreme Court to the effect that no Court has power to prevent the investigation and/or arrest/detention of anybody or persons suspected to have committed a crime.”
It appears the Attorney-General, who was assumed to be clothing Ibori is now under fire by members of the public that he (Attorney-General) was not committed to fighting corruption, especially prosecution of corrupt public officials, which is believed to have eaten deep into the fabric of the nation.
Ibori is known to have won many battles, including his ex-convict saga; but whether his Odidigborigbo (war no dey pass God) magic will come to bear this time around, only God can tell.