Saharareporters, New York

Two separate Federal High Courts today denied the bail applications of former Governors James Ibori of Delta and Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti.

In Kaduna, a Federal High Court judge ruled that Mr. Ibori, who faces a 103-count indictment for corruption, abuse of office and money laundering, should be remanded at the Kaduna prison until January 11, 2008. Another judge in Lagos ordered Fayose held in Ikoyi prison until January 9 next year.

Saharareporters could not ascertain as at press time what legal arguments sustained the decision of the judges.

However, we reported a day ago that the prosecutors handling James Ibori's case were not perturbed by the antics of the Delta State government which had paid huge sums of money to hired militants and pressure groups to intimidate the judge. Our source said the prosecutors also regarded Ibori as a flight risk since he had prior convictions in the UK dating from the early 90's and also carries multiple passports.

Former Governor Fayose emerged two weeks ago from many months of hiding following his impeachment by the Ekiti State Assembly. He made a dramatic appearance in the state capital accompanied by a convoy of vehicles, with a retinue of hired supporters. A few days ago, Mr. Fayose surrendered himself to officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission who wanted him on multiple corruption charges.

A source close to Ibori told our reporters that the ex-governor was “absolutely devastated by the judge’s order.” As expected, Ibori had brought hired crowds to Kaduna to protest his detention and trial. Added the source: “Chief Ibori had looked forward to celebrating Christmas and the New Year with his friends and family at home.”

Ibori’s cousin and chosen successor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, had recruited several militant groups to promise mayhem and a spate of kidnappings should Ibori be denied bail.

A security source in Abuja said Governor Uduaghan’s sponsorship of terrorist activities was being closely monitored.

PM News Reports from Kaduna

Breaking News:Ibori To Spend Xmas, New Year In Prison

By Femi Adi/Kaduna

Hard times await former Delta State governor, James Ibori, as a Federal High Court in Kaduna, this morning, declined to grant him bail and fixed his trial for 11 January, 2008. The court also ordered that he be moved from the EFCC custody to prison custody until 11 January, when the case is expected to be given accelerated hearing.

Delivering his ruling in the bail application filed by Joseph Daudu (SAN), Ibori’s counsel, this morning, Justice Mohammed Lawal Shuaibu, ruled that since there was no substantial evidence from Ibori to convince the court on his oral application for bail, he, therefore, rejected the application.

“The court has the desertion to grant bail to the accused or not, but since there was no material evidence provided by counsel to the accused, the oral application is hereby refused and accelerated hearing granted,” Justice Shuaibu ruled.

After the ruling, counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Jacob, pleaded with the court to file proof of evidence against the 103-count charge against Ibori and his mistress, Uzoma Okoronkwo. Jacob also requested to file another 26 charges against the accused persons.

Ibori’s counsel, Joseph Bodunrin (SAN), who kicked against the idea of filing proof of evidence against his clients, urged the court to stand down the application, which the court did accordingly.

In an interview with P.M.News, counsel to Ibori, Joseph Daudu (SAN), gave assurance that all efforts would be made within the law to seek Ibori’s bail when the court resumes sitting in January.

Meanwhile, a large crowd of supporters of the former governor from Delta State, besieged the court this morning, asking the court to release him.

They carried placards with the inscriptions: “Ibori has always remained our leader, jailing Ibori can’t kill resource control.”

It took a reinforced team of policemen from the Kaduna State Police Command to stop the supporters from pulling down the gates leading to the courtroom wall, which was damaged by the supporters.

Robot  # 1 | 17.12.2007 14:54

var sbtitle9383=encodeURIComponent(James Ibori...Read the full article.

tonsoyo  # 2 | 17.12.2007 15:10

James and Peter in prison hahahahaha!!!!, that reminds me of the story of Paul and Silas in prison. There are apostles and there are apostles. If James (Ibori) and Peter (Fayose) are for real, they should be able to sing and pray in the gaol for the angels to come down and release them, so that they can spend Xmas at home. Ah! apostles name don suffer. James and Peter in jail for embezzlement?

dele26  # 3 | 17.12.2007 15:28

God of those days dey enter train to come judge evil doers but God of these days na Concorde jet direct ‘Eni deru leru nto, elete lete nye’: James and Peter ‘e ma pe lewon bi ti obo’ – Una go tey for jail like monkey

spaco  # 4 | 17.12.2007 15:54

nice1, naija judiciary for these one hoooo, it means nobody above the LAW anymore for naija,what about our remaining northern governors they are more corrupt than south governors, they know own to do it by ran to Emirs and Organisations

spaco  # 5 | 17.12.2007 15:55

nice1, naija judiciary for these one hoooo, it means nobody above the LAW anymore for naija,what about our remaining northern governors they are more corrupt than south governors, they know how to do it by ran to Emirs and Organisations

tonsoyo  # 6 | 17.12.2007 16:23

=spaco;4294973406>nice1, naija judiciary for these one hoooo, it means nobody above the LAW anymore for naija,what about our remaining northern governors they are more corrupt than south governors, they know own to do it by ran to Emirs and Organisations It baffles me that nobody talks about the Northern Governors when we are discussing corruption. The closest that we have gotten to imprisoning a Northern Governor is small fries like Dariye and Nyame. Whereas the likes of Ibori and Fayose can ask you to supply furniture worth N3 Million for N60 Million, the Northern Governor will simply pay you N70 Million upfront and ask you to supply the furniture into a thick forest. Because the company that is supposed to clear the forest for building absconded with the money 4 four years before, the building contractor absconded with the full payment 3 years before and the interior decorator a year before and the Governor does not even have a clue!

Dapxin  # 7 | 17.12.2007 17:28

=tonsoyo;4294973416>It baffles me that nobody talks about the Northern Governors when we are discussing corruption. The closest that we have gotten to imprisoning a Northern Governor is small fries like Dariye and Nyame. Whereas the likes of Ibori and Fayose can ask you to supply furniture worth N3 Million for N60 Million, the Northern Governor will simply pay you N70 Million upfront and ask you to supply the furniture into a thick forest. Because the company that is supposed to clear the forest for building absconded with the money 4 four years before, the building contractor absconded with the full payment 3 years before and the interior decorator a year before and the Governor does not even have a clue! Quite true. But I take consolation in the reality that if we all zoom back into time, even this headline will be derided with all sense of seriousness as IMPOSSIBLE. That is to say, however little, it's a micro-metre leap but its still a long shot. I wish I was able to go do undercover on their lives in prison. Sons-of-bitches!

olusola  # 8 | 17.12.2007 18:47

Tonsoyo, I am also expecting the EFCC to bring Tinubu to book very soon. I have a feeling Tinubu is worse than the likes of Nyame, Dariye and Fayose. Only the likes of Ibori and Odili will be closer to Tinubu. He is a very smart crook. And by the way, I just read in one of the papers today where Benue state governor was praising Andooka for improving Nigeri'a image in the global community. In fact ,he was declared Mr. Rule of Law at the gathering!! I have since been laughing and laughing!:lol::lol: =tonsoyo;4294973416>It baffles me that nobody talks about the Northern Governors when we are discussing corruption. The closest that we have gotten to imprisoning a Northern Governor is small fries like Dariye and Nyame. Whereas the likes of Ibori and Fayose can ask you to supply furniture worth N3 Million for N60 Million, the Northern Governor will simply pay you N70 Million upfront and ask you to supply the furniture into a thick forest. Because the company that is supposed to clear the forest for building absconded with the money 4 four years before, the building contractor absconded with the full payment 3 years before and the interior decorator a year before and the Governor does not even have a clue!

otito koro  # 9 | 18.12.2007 00:10

=spaco;4294973407>nice1, naija judiciary for these one hoooo, it means nobody above the LAW anymore for naija,what about our remaining northern governors they are more corrupt than south governors, they know how to do it by ran to Emirs and Organisations I agree with you 100%. Yarima, Akume and Makarfi are all dis honourable senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Abraxas  # 10 | 18.12.2007 02:32

Hi, folks! I wonder why a significant number of former northern state governors chose to allow their political career paths pass from government house to senate, instead of straight to Aso Rock Villa? Is there some "secret" that they know that most former governors from the southern states did not appreciate or know exists? Is it a fundamental problem of misplaced ego inflation, treasury looting fixation, and sycophancy-induced perception of reality that propel the likes of Sir (Dr.) Peter Odili (JP), Mazi Orji Uzor Kalu (JP), and Chief (Mazi) Achike Udenwa (JP), all of them, essentially political wannabes, and neophytes from southern Nigeria, to hallucinate about transiting from their relative political obscurity, via 8 years of aggressive treasury looting, into Aso Rock, in one move? Maybe the political lessons have been learned (from the University of Hard Knocks). Maybe, next time around, we will see more southern governors, especially those that are prone to fall for the grand dellusion of their very own indispensability in the public sphere, consciously and preferably opt out for extending their political lifespan via some 4 ~ 8 years, or even 12 years in the Senate: Who knows? {Onye ma? Ta'lo mo? Tubo nimi?} Muchas gracias. Don Juan-Carlos ABRAXAS (III)

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