Breaking News! Protest [Updates on Ibori's UK Case]

[VOR]

Breaking News! Michael Aondoakaa in London NLF call for Phone Protest! 02089901100



Michael Aondoakaa in London NLF Organize Phone Protest! Nigerians and all haters of corruption, the notoriously corruptprotector of looters of Nigeria, Michael Aondoakaa, Nigeria's AG off Fraud is currently at the London Heathrow Marriott Hotel ... Phone: ++44 208 990 1100 . You can protest by calling the Hotel to kick out the thief in the place. or contact the Nigerian Liberty Forum text 07984212553


www.saharareporters.com

[VOR]

Aondoakaa is in the UK to meet with his UK counterpart - Baoness Patricia Scotland. Pls contact her office & express ur opposition to any deals with Aondoakaa.


The Attorney General's Office
20 Victoria Str, London SW1H 0NF
Tel: ++44 207 271 2492
Fax:020 7271 2434

[VOR]

If you decide to send a letter via post or fax you can use the text below. Lets do something people!!

Dear Madam,

NIGERIAN ATTORNEY GENERAL’S SUPPORT AND ENABLEMENT OF CORRUPTION...

It is no longer a secret that Mr Michael Aoandoakaa, the Nigerian AG is a supporter and enabler of corruption in Nigeria. He has no business being in public service anywhere and he has no business being in the UK to attempt freeing his corrupt principals from British justice.

Please, do not give him audience! Say no to public corruption in Nigeria!

Yours faithfully,

(Name)

[VOR]

The AGF's visits the UK the weekend before the trial of Ibori's mistress. I know the guy is up to no good!! We will see him at Southwark Crown Court on Monday!!!!

[lateesha]

abeg make una call.
His name alone is enough to get him kicked out
aondo wetin?

[Dapxin]

just getting on this...too bad I couldnt call daytime...will try to be in on Monday.

[Uncle Sam]

"Michael Aondoakaa in London NLF Organize Phone Protest! Nigerians and all haters of corruption, the notoriously corruptprotector of looters of Nigeria, Michael Aondoakaa, Nigeria's AG off Fraud is currently at the London Heathrow Marriott Hotel ... Phone: ++44 208 990 1100 . You can protest by calling the Hotel to kick out the thief in the place. or contact the Nigerian Liberty Forum text 07984212553"



How will these calls solve the problem? Throw him out? Marriott Hotel is not stupid. If they throw him out, another hotel is right there.

This whole idea of calling a hotel is an outright stupid act.

Even a citizen's arrest is more effective if applicable in UK.

[iamgod]

"Michael Aondoakaa in London NLF Organize Phone Protest! Nigerians and all haters of corruption, the notoriously corruptprotector of looters of Nigeria, Michael Aondoakaa, Nigeria's AG off Fraud is currently at the London Heathrow Marriott Hotel ... Phone: ++44 208 990 1100 . You can protest by calling the Hotel to kick out the thief in the place. or contact the Nigerian Liberty Forum text 07984212553"



How will these calls solve the problem? Throw him out? Marriott Hotel is not stupid. If they throw him out, another hotel is right there.

This whole idea of calling a hotel is an outright stupid act.

Even a citizen's arrest is more effective if applicable in UK.

Must have been written in a hurry. Calling his UK counterpart as indicated above will certainly be more effective...

[iamgod]

Hi VOR, does the UK Attorney General have an email address for her office?

Thx in advance.

[Dapxin]

Hi VOR, does the UK Attorney General have an email address for her office?

Thx in advance.

Get Yours
----------
Contacts The Attorney General's Office
20 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0NF
General Inquiries: 020 7271 2492
Fax: 020 7271 2434

E-Mail addresses:

All queries: correspondenceunit@attorneygeneral.gsi.gov.uk

Freedom of Information matters: foi@attorneygeneral.gsi.gov.uk

Nominations of Counsel: nominations@attorneygeneral.gsi.gov.uk

Complaints about us: complaints@attorneygeneral.gsi.gov.uk


Feedback Send your feedback on this site to:
The Attorney General's Office website administration:
correspondenceunit@attorneygeneral.gsi.gov.uk

[Bill Carson]

"Michael Aondoakaa in London NLF Organize Phone Protest! Nigerians and all haters of corruption, the notoriously corruptprotector of looters of Nigeria, Michael Aondoakaa, Nigeria's AG off Fraud is currently at the London Heathrow Marriott Hotel ... Phone: ++44 208 990 1100 . You can protest by calling the Hotel to kick out the thief in the place. or contact the Nigerian Liberty Forum text 07984212553"



How will these calls solve the problem? Throw him out? Marriott Hotel is not stupid. If they throw him out, another hotel is right there.

This whole idea of calling a hotel is an outright stupid act.

Even a citizen's arrest is more effective if applicable in UK.

Calling Marriott Hotel is an effective way of embarrassing Aondoakaa. The whole idea is to make life so uncomfortable for the AGF that he will consider changing his wicked ways….

[denker]

i called the hotel right now but was told dat the monkey has alright checked out...make una stone dat monkey anywhere una see for london...goodlucky people!

[Igboamaeze]

------------

If the news by Sahara Reporters that the AGF has been "chased" out of London is true, then I will say that the end of our agony is in sight. It means that we can picket our oppressors by phone, fax and email from any corner of the globe. It means that we'll make them think twice before jetting out to London, New York, Dubai, Paris, Prague, Durban, Accra, Cairo, Jedda, etc whether for holiday, conference, medicals, etc.

This initiative and its reported success has given me so much joy. I am surprised that villagers are not savoring it here as others are doing on SR.

There can't be a more befitting tribute to Gani than this...

[Dapxin]

------------

If the news by Sahara Reporters that the AGF has been "chased" out of London is true, then I will say that the end of our agony is in sight. It means that we can picket our oppressors by phone, fax and email from any corner of the globe. It means that we'll make them think twice before jetting out to London, New York, Dubai, Paris, Prague, Durban, Accra, Cairo, Jedda, etc whether for holiday, conference, medicals, etc.

This initiative and its reported success has given me so much joy. I am surprised that villagers are not savoring it here as others are doing on SR.

There can't be a more befitting tribute to Gani than this...

maybe because villagers are not yet in, on the news.

It should be mentioned, that life was made so difficult for murderer obasanjo the other day the crooks at London school of economics invited him out for random lecture on war and peace. He had to be smuggled in thru the backdoor.

I am not sure he's returned since then.

Andooka will be met with some of the same brush on monday. It may be little, but its alwasy been little by little....

[Igboamaeze]

maybe because villagers are not yet in, on the news.

It should be mentioned, that life was made so difficult for murderer obasanjo the other day the crooks at London school of economics invited him out for random lecture on war and peace. He had to be smuggled in thru the backdoor.

I am not sure he's returned since then.

Andooka will be met with some of the same brush on monday. It may be little, but its alwasy been little by little....

-------------

Ol voiiii..iii....

You don sfoil mai selevrason no vi shmall. I tink shay the roud maut don pik race ris Naija as dem de forsuam (pursue am) so? I no zavi sey him still dey enjoi rife por rondon.

Na wich kai k-leg tori be dis one...?

[DaBishop]

maybe because villagers are not yet in, on the news.

It should be mentioned, that life was made so difficult for murderer obasanjo the other day the crooks at London school of economics invited him out for random lecture on war and peace. He had to be smuggled in thru the backdoor.

I am not sure he's returned since then.

Andooka will be met with some of the same brush on monday. It may be little, but its alwasy been little by little....

I do think, the AGF may have retreated to a friend's private residence.

What to do?
Any UK Barristers as 'amicus' 'friend of court' can present a brief to state why based on the facts history and extant laws of Nigeria, the AGF is contradicting his mandate to serve as the people's representative in the UK.

Depending on the temperament of the judge, the brief may/may not be ignored...but the point is to make a showing that may get a mention and further embarrass him.

Placards in court would disrupt the order and while may (depending on judge) be contemptible, it may also get a mention and cause the authorities in England too to take notice. Placards can be held outside court!

Will try to contact the Office too on Monday...to say the AGF of Nigeria has no business trying to stifle the prosecution of any person for alleged crimes committed in the UK and he is not authorized by our law to do so.

BTW, I wrote to their complaint addy

Esteemed Learned Colleagues:

As a Nigerian, I am ashamed that you are meeting with Mr Michael Aondoakaa in respect of a criminal case being prosecuted in London.

Under the law in Nigeria, the Attorney General is not empowered to reach out to other jurisdictions and interfere in the prosecution of alleged criminals and the Nigerian people are waiting with interest to see the determination of this case.

[VOR]

Exactly!!! The spirit of Gani came alive last night, there was a frenzy of activity online and with text messaging. The Attorney General of Fraud was 'advised' to leave the hotel after hundreds of calls came in from across the world for one man GREAT NIGERIANS....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The stage is set for Monday, we shall see.

I hear he will be in the US soon, we shall meet him there too! Meanwhile the UK is still and will remain a no-entry point for Ibori and his cohorts!

------------

If the news by Sahara Reporters that the AGF has been "chased" out of London is true, then I will say that the end of our agony is in sight. It means that we can picket our oppressors by phone, fax and email from any corner of the globe. It means that we'll make them think twice before jetting out to London, New York, Dubai, Paris, Prague, Durban, Accra, Cairo, Jedda, etc whether for holiday, conference, medicals, etc.

This initiative and its reported success has given me so much joy. I am surprised that villagers are not savoring it here as others are doing on SR.

There can't be a more befitting tribute to Gani than this...

[VOR]

Case Against Ibori & Co in London

Details:

Date: Monday 21 September 2009.
Venue: Southwark Crown Court
1 English Grounds, off Battlebridge Lane
Southwark, London
England, SE1 2HU

BEFORE: HIS HONOUR JUDGE HARDY For Trial. IBORI-IBIE Christine O POGOSON Adebimpe F LINKED TO: ONUIGBO Udoamaka.

The Nigeria Liberty Forum encourage anyone in the UK to witness the case.

[anonimi]

thank y'all... just saw this...will also try to send in some mails to all the addies of the UK Minister. Let's flood their inbox too until they take notice and do something.
little by little we will pull ourselves out of this mess wey dey rub our country bad bad.

[Albany]

This is interesting !

@ Igboamaeze, whether Aondoakaa was chased out of London or just advised by the management of the hotel to check out for security reasons, the point is that it is no longer business as usual for Nigerian looters. Their safe haven is getting too hot for them, which is good news.

Obasanjo was pelted with tomatoes some months back. I guess they now get the message. At least, trepidation will now take the place of impunity. The looters are now forced to watch their back, whenever they want to travel abroad.

The fire has just been ignited and should be sustained.

Way to go, folks !

Kudos to the initiators of the protest !

[Igboamaeze]

----------

Someone (he claimed to be a worker in the hotel, kwaa-kwaa) posted on SR saying that Aandoka never checked into Marriot. Who can give us a true account of things? Even SR ma don draw two bad cards for this one: first they said he ran back to Naija now person the hear say the vovo(abi na bobo) never go to Marriot in the first.

Abeg which one be true and which be lie...?

-----------
UPDATE:

Another person has claimed that the poster of the above message does not work with Marriot. More confussion...

[VOR]

Igboma.....you know that they have their people on SR too ke

Wait for Monday when pictures will be made available if he is spotted in court. I don't think he has left the UK, I believe he relocated.

----------

Someone (he claimed to be a worker in the hotel, kwaa-kwaa) posted on SR saying that Aandoka never checked into Marriot. Who can give us a true account of things? Even SR ma don draw two bad cards for this one: first they said he ran back to Naija now person the hear say the vovo(abi na bobo) never go to Marriot in the first.

Abeg which one be true and which be lie...?

-----------
UPDATE:

Another person has claimed that the poster of the above message does not work with Marriot. More confussion...

[Albany]

----------

Someone (he claimed to be a worker in the hotel, kwaa-kwaa) posted on SR saying that Aandoka never checked into Marriot. Who can give us a true account of things? Even SR ma don draw two bad cards for this one: first they said he ran back to Naija now person the hear say the vovo(abi na bobo) never go to Marriot in the first.

Abeg which one be true and which be lie...?

-----------
UPDATE:

Another person has claimed that the poster of the above message does not work with Marriot. More confussion...

Don't bother your head about him. He will definitely be in court on Monday and will receive a standing ovation of fresh tomatoes........

[I Love Nigeria]

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/...rticle&id=7416

No Tears for Looters!
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&i...ie&btnG=Search

[VOR]

The Nigerian situation is now critical!



Notorious attorney general Michael Aondoakaa arrived today in the United Kingdom on a desperate mission to try to rescue former Governor James Onanefe Ibori from his latest legal trouble. Last week, UK authorities indicted Ibori, former Governor Victor Attah, Umaru Yar’adua’s principal private secretary David Edevbie, and Ibori’s UK lawyer, Bhadresh Gohil, over their laundering of $38 million in a V-Mobile stock deal.


Following the indictment, Ibori – who invested more than N10 billion of Delta State funds in Yar’adua’s presidential campaign – and Aondoakaa rushed to meet Yar’adua two days ago. Our sources in Abuja said the two men persuaded Yar’adua that the indictments were aimed at “embarrassing his government.” Once he bought the lie, Yar’adua then signed off on the two men’s “containment strategies.” The first step of that strategy was to dispatch Aondoakaa to London as Yar’adua’s emissary to submit “clearance evidence” exonerating Ibori and Edevbie, a former Delta State commissioner of finance under Ibori.


Aondoakaa, who was livid after the EFCC issued a press release contradicting his claim that the indicted former officials were innocent, had confronted Yar’adua on Tuesday at Aso Rock Villa. His meeting with Yar’adua came after a week in which he confided in close associates that, should he be fired from the cabinet, he would reveal what he knows about the way Yar’adua compromised the Nigerian judiciary to keep his fraudulent presidential mandate.
Ibori, who visited Aso Rock Villa on Tuesday and Wednesday, had also put in his own pressure. Since the Central Bank of Nigeria exposed Ibori’s business fronts as some of the biggest delinquent debtors to banks, the former governor had been telling his friends that he felt betrayed by Yar’adua. He had also told a few close-knit associates that he was willing to collaborate with former President Olusegun Obasanjo to thwart Yar’adua’s desire for a second term.
But in his recent meetings with Yar’adua, Ibori adopted a more conciliatory tone, according to a source who was briefed. In the main, Ibori told Yar’adua that the fresh charges in London were designed to destabilize and possibly overthrow his government. He handed Yar’adua a folder containing “security reports” that indicated that former Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nasir El-Rufai, and former EFCC chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, were collaborating to overthrow the government.
Saharareporters has learned that Yar’adua signed off on Aondoakaa’s and Ibori’s suggestion that the regime should adopt a strong stance in talks with UK authorities. The justice minister, who has sent several letters to Ibori’s legal defense team aimed at scuttling the extensive money laundering case against the former governor, has been authorized to voice a formal protest regarding the British government’s “interference in the internal affairs of Nigeria through incessant criminal charges filed against Ibori and his associates.”

In addition, Saharareporters learned that Aondoakaa would present to the UK Home Office an extradition request for Mr. Nasir El-Rufai. Yesterday, the Nigerian High Commission in London denied El-Rufai’s application for renewal of his Nigerian passport. Our source at the High Commission said the denial was ordered from Abuja.


A source at London Metropolitan police said Aondoakaa’s attempt to sabotage their prosecution of Ibori, Attah, Edevbie and other accomplices was “pretty much a mission impossible.” According to the source, “we’re unfazed by any tactics designed to derail this trial.” He insisted that the trial of the three major collaborators in the theft of V-Mobile shares belonging to Delta and Akwa Ibom States is to proceed next week as planned. The V-Mobile fraud was perpetrated using UK and Jersey financial institutions.

Our Metropolitan police source also said that all the individuals indicted in the charge sheet published earlier by Saharareporters were being sought across Europe. He said British authorities “would definitely welcome Mr. Edevbie’s arrival here to answer for his involvement in the case.” A Nigerian newspaper, Thisday, had reported that Edevbie would resign his office and fly to London if it was established that he was indicted. His indictment has never been in question.


Despite Ibori’s and Aondoakaa’s success in convincing Yar’adua that Edevbie was a victim in a plot to embarrass the Yar’adua regime, Saharareporters has obtained new facts that indicate Edevbie’s direct and deep involvement in the scam. Our sources revealed that a raid carried out on the home of Ibori’s lawyer, Bhadresh Gohil in the course of investigations, yielded a treasure trove of information on the V-Mobile scam. “Edevbie knows how deeply involved he is,” said one of our sources.


Thisday had initially claimed that Edevbie was “not declared wanted.” But after we provided documents exposing the paper’s falsehood, the paper today changed tack. It wrote that Mr. Edevbie was “not on trial,” but admitted his name was found on the charge sheet. An e-mail the paper received from the London police also stated clearly that Edevbie was indicted in the case. London police also reiterated to Thisday that they would not discuss whether Mr. Edevbie was wanted or not.>>
With regard to the paper’s claim that Edevbie was not on “trial,” Thisday failed to disclose to its readers that, except in rare cases (by way of an act made in 2001), the UK legal system does not try accused persons in absentia.>>
Three days later after Thisday published its “scoop,” Mr. Edevbie, who reportedly carries a British passport, has made no moves to resign or to travel to London to clear his name.



http://saharareporters.com/index.php...news&Itemid=18

[ajimoh]

[QUOTE=VOR;389014]

Yes, indeed the situation is critical and this is the time for us to step up our game. Please reserve my place on Monday. Now Southwark market is not far and we'll need to get sufficient quantities of eggs and rotten tomatoes -please rotten tomatoes only. Will be making my way straight from Aberdeen in the morning! We will meet Aondoaka, Minister for corruption and Minister for James Ibori, tomorrow!

[anonimi]

The fire has just been ignited and should be sustained.

Big Amen

[bigtruth]

http://www.tribune.com.ng/21092009/news/news1.html



ANOTHER twist has come into the controversial prosecution of former Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori, for alleged money laundering in the United Kingdom, with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN) making a 360-degree turn to support the trial.

The minister had earlier said he would not allow the prosecution of Ibori and others in London for offences allegedly committed in Nigeria, despite the existence of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) between Britain and Nigeria.

He was alleged to have stopped 25 witnesses lined up by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from testifying against Ibori in a case at Southwark Crown Court in London.

He also controversially cleared Ibori and two other former governors in an alleged N6.1 billion scam in the sales of Vmobile shares belonging to the three states.

A ding-dong was said to have ensued between the anti-graft commission and the minister over the trip of the witnesses to London, with the minister coming out with a statement signed by him on Sunday to clear the air on his trip to London and stand on the trial.

The statement read “Following reports in the media on my trip to London , I wish to make the following clarifications. My mission to London has nothing to do with ongoing prosecution or investigation of anybody.

“Why I went to London was in connection with the allegation that I have stopped prosecution of all corrupt cases. And what I did was that I requested the EFCC to give me a list of all ongoing prosecution with the stages of prosecution and the next adjourned date for a better and mutual understanding between me and the Home Secretary. When I come back, I will release the list to the press on the first working day.

“I went to meet with the Home Secretary and not the Metropolitan Police. It would be mischievous to expect that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation will go low to go and discuss with the Met Police.

“On the issue of 25 witnesses needed by the Met Police, nobody has brought that information to my notice and immediately I saw the publication in the papers today, I contacted the Secretary of the EFCC, Mr. Emmanuel Akonmaye, who said they will be bringing whatever they have got from the Metropolitan Police on the next working day as regards the witnesses to testify in Ibori’s case.

“I have no request on my desk in relation to these witnesses. As soon as my office receives the request, it will be treated with dispatch and as the law requires.

“Let me make it clear on record that every Nigerian has a constitutional right of free movement and freedom of expression and therefore, the Office of the AGF will not breach the constitution by stopping anybody from testifying before any tribunal or court in Nigeria or outside, including the UK. That is the true fact.

“Lastly, these people are witnesses, they are not accused persons and they have a right to go anywhere to give oral testimony.

“So, the issue of trying to blackmail people and trying to create sensation does not arise. I will never prevent any Nigerian from testifying.”

However, indications emerged at the weekend that the Presidency had asked the State Security Service (SSS) to probe last week’s trip by Aondoakaa to London to prove the innocence of former Governor Ibori in the Vmobile $1.6 billion shares sale scandal.

Sources told the Nigerian Tribune that the government was shocked to discover that the trip was aimed at defending an individual.

A source said that contrary to the indication given by the minister while embarking on the trip, he actually went to London to defend the former governor of Delta State.

The minister was said to have travelled on the pretext that he was going to attend to issues relating to the Nigerian/British trade mission.

The source said that on paper, the minister was to attend some programmes alongside the Nigerian Ambassador to the United Kingdom (UK), Senator Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, but the trip was exclusively turned into an avenue to defend the former governors who were being investigated by the London Metropolitan Police.

An official in the administration told the Nigerian Tribune that the image of the country was at stake in this matter and the minister had stuck his neck out too far.

A source said on Sunday “there is the feeling that the government of Nigeria was doing all it could to prove the innocence of the former governors. The UK police said they have evidence against them, is it not better to allow the UK courts to sort out the matter rather than drag the Nigerian government into the matter?”

It was gathered that the SSS had been mandated to look into the circumstances of the trip with a view to determining the AGF’s true itinerary in London last week.

But a source stated that the minister actually met with the investigators in London and protested their decision to go ahead with the case against former Governor Ibori, when the Nigerian authorities had cleared the former governor.

The Metropolitan Police are said to have exclusive evidence relating to the shares proceeds scam being equally investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

They were said to be unimpressed by the arguments of the minister.

A source said the opinion of the UK investigators was that Nigeria’s anti-corruption fight had taken a nosedive with the presentations by the minister.
Another source said the SSS actually had the mandate to investigate anyone and that it was the first time a sitting minister was being investigated under this administration.

The AGF and the EFCC had been at loggerheads over the trial of former Governor Ibori in the Vmobile shares sale scam.

While the Attorney General had declared that the EFCC had cleared the three former governors, James Ibori, Bola Tinubu and Victor Attah, in the case involving the shares scam, the EFCC shot back last week, insisting that the former governors had not been cleared.

“The commission wishes to state emphatically that it has not, at any time or in any correspondence with the persons referred to in these media reports or any other person, cleared them of complicity in all matters relating to them which are either in court or still under investigation.

“It is, therefore, inappropriate to input or infer that the three former governors have been exonerated in matters that are still pending or yet to be determined by the law court which is the only competent organ of government that can pronounce guilty or innocence in matters like the ones under reference.

“The commission has to make this clarification in view of the volume of enquiries from concerned Nigerians so as to lay to rest all doubts and insinuations as to the position of the commission and its leadership in all these.

“The letter being referred to in these reports has no specific impact or reference to the cases of the three former governors as it was only an advice to a bank on the operation of a company’s account and as such, cannot speak for substantive cases being investigated.

“While not adjudging anyone guilty until proven so, the commission wishes to restate that it has not, in anyway, declared the three former governors innocent of the allegations for which they are being investigated,” the EFCC stated.

[DaBishop]

BTW, I wrote to their complaint addy

Update:
I received a standard civil service reply promptly this morning in ma mail, thus...

Thank you for your email, the contents of which have been noted.

Regards

James Ross
Correspondence Unit

[nijalaw]

[quote=ajimoh;389072]

Yes, indeed the situation is critical and this is the time for us to step up our game. Please reserve my place on Monday. Now Southwark market is not far and we'll need to get sufficient quantities of eggs and rotten tomatoes -please rotten tomatoes only. Will be making my way straight from Aberdeen in the morning! We will meet Aondoaka, Minister for corruption and Minister for James Ibori, tomorrow!

How far we dey wait for your update.

[Ranter]

I am about to go to lunch on Teusday where I am stationed, is it still monay in Rondon or what?

What happened at southwalk? How many walking wounded (WWs)?

[salstep]

SOURCE


Ibori’s female aides in London court over money laundering





The money laundering trial involving the female aides of the former governor of Delta State, James Onanefe Ibori, began yesterday at the Southwark Crown Court, London around 10am. The aides reportedly helped him move an estimated £70 million worth of looted funds through several London banks,

Bimpe Pogoson, Ibori’s former personal assistant on confidential matters, and Christie Ibori-Ibie, his sister, were charged in December 2007 on three counts of conspiring “together with James Onanefe Ibori, Udoamaka Onuigbo (also known as Okoronkwo) and others to defraud the Delta State Government”.

The charge sheet also stated that Ms. Ibori-Ibie “attempted, dishonestly, to obtain for herself or another, a money transfer of £1,075,890 from four different companies, between July 2001 and April 2006”. She is therefore answering to five of eight charges.

The defendants’ lawyers will reportedly be taking on the Proceeds of Crime Unit of the Metropolitan Police in London and the Crown Prosecution Service, in what from day one is set to be a tedious trial.

An official of the Southwark court case progression office, in an exclusive telephone interview with NEXT, confirmed that the accused persons were still at Court 8, where the proceedings held, over five hours after the trial began.

A long trial

The male official, who declined to be identified, also confirmed that case number T20087009 was going to be a long haul.

“I think it’s still going on, the case. It’s a very long one because of the amount of witnesses. There are several people involved; it’s going to be about four to six weeks. Today is the first day. So, basically, it was opening statements and the case has been adjourned until tomorrow at 10:15 am. This is going to be a four to six-week trial.”

The making of a spectacle

Ms. Ibori-Ibie, and Ms. Onuigbo were accused of “being a party to an inflated price fraud in respect of the contract for the building of a sports track for the Delta State government, as well as participating in “the provision of an inflated invoice fraud in respect of the supply of vehicles to the Delta State government.”

A witness at the court, who spoke to NEXT via telephone, said all three women were clearly embarrassed to see that the public gallery made available to individuals was occupied by Nigerians, who took time off work and the Ramadan festivities to follow through on the trial.

Closed to the media

Kayode Ogundamisi, an official of the Nigeria Liberty Forum, a pro-democracy association based in the UK, told NEXT that despite the fact that all digital cameras were confiscated before entry was granted to spectators, the defence team, including Andrew Trollope, counsel to Ms. Ibori-Ibie, “spent considerable time” asking that the media be restricted from access to details of the case, even citing the “intimidating presence” of the Nigerian public.

“I am in the courtroom, and the three accused persons are surprised at the number of Nigerians that turned up for the trial.

One of their lawyers remarked aloud that they were surprised to note the presence of Nigerians citizens, as the prior depositions had been held in an almost empty courtroom,” Mr. Ogundamisi said.

At about 2:25pm on Monday, presiding judge, Hardy granted some concessions to the defence by issuing a “not open to the media order” barring publication of case details in UK-based media organizations.

NEXT sources confirmed that at about 4:40pm, when the court proceedings were over, the three defendants hung back within the court premises, refusing to exit through the court entrance for fear of having their photographs taken by the crowd outside the premises and interested media organisations.

The Southwark Crown Court is situated at 1, English Grounds, off Battle Bridge Lane, Southwark, London, SE12HU.

[Mikky jaga]

Things are happening fast. The cookies are fast crumbling. Nigerians are regaining their lost voices against their corrupt rulers. But never underrate that guy called Ibori. He can make a judge see Ibori and claim it was not the same Ibori he saw.

[Ewuro]

Things are happening fast. The cookies are fast crumbling. Nigerians are regaining their lost voices against their corrupt rulers. But never underrate that guy called Ibori. He can make a judge see Ibori and claim it was not the same Ibori he saw.

MJ,
You can always say the bolded part on the Nigerian government/police and judiciary. A judge in the british courts would examine the evidence presented to him and judge him accordingly. Remember he was convicted at least twice in the British courts before. So Ibori is an ex-convict.
With that record he was not eligible to context an elective post in Nigeria. In Nigeria, anything goes.
You seem to rate this criminal too high. In the UK, Ibori remains a common crook.
No Nigerians are not yet regaining their lost voices. Nigerians in the UK are using the opprtunity presented to them by the system in the UK which guarantees freedom of expression. The judiciary in the UK or EU or US is very free. I mean really free.
Ibori dare not come into the UK, even though he has an unrestricted leave to enter. Maybe even a dual nationality. Money laundering is a serious offence and could earn him a long spell of time at her majesty's prison.
Aondoakaa was just waisting tax payers money pretending he could shiel Ibori from prosecution.
No minister or secretary of state dare interfer with police work, talk less of the judges. The stanrdard for probity may not be perfect but are quite high. The wheels of justice may even be slow but surely it gets there in the end.
Ibori has a really uphill task in the UK courts.

[VOR]

My brother, will love to give you an update on the trial but a reporting restriction on proceedings was imposed by the court yesterday so we are limited on what to report.

I can tell you though that one of the Nigerians there yesterday was assaulted by supporters of Ibori. Also their supporters (outnumbering Nigerians) in court threw disdainful and threatening looks at Nigerians observers.

Now I am doing a call out Nigerians to troop to court on Friday (next date for hearing) and show these people that WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED HERE AS WELL.

[quote=nijalaw;389320]

How far we dey wait for your update.

[VOR]

Not if Nigerians rise against Ibori in this case!! stuff happened yesterday, all I can say is Nigerians NEED to show an interest and turn up!!!

Things are happening fast. The cookies are fast crumbling. Nigerians are regaining their lost voices against their corrupt rulers. But never underrate that guy called Ibori. He can make a judge see Ibori and claim it was not the same Ibori he saw.

[VOR]

Next Date for Hearing:

Friday 25th September

Southwark Crown Court

Address

1 English Grounds
(off Battlebridge Lane)
Southwark London
England
SE1 2HU

[toksy]

Now I am doing a call out Nigerians to troop to court on Friday (next date for hearing) and show these people that WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED HERE AS WELL.

Pls. VOR, count me in. I find it hard to believe that Ibori's sycophants outnumbered those calling for his head! I suppose, "seeing is believing"..........so got to see these shameless people with my own "korokoro" eyes.

[Igboamaeze]

MJ,
You can always say the bolded part on the Nigerian government/police and judiciary. A judge in the british courts would examine the evidence presented to him and judge him accordingly. Remember he was convicted at least twice in the British courts before. So Ibori is an ex-convict.
With that record he was not eligible to context an elective post in Nigeria. In Nigeria, anything goes.
You seem to rate this criminal too high. In the UK, Ibori remains a common crook.
No Nigerians are not yet regaining their lost voices. Nigerians in the UK are using the opprtunity presented to them by the system in the UK which guarantees freedom of expression. The judiciary in the UK or EU or US is very free. I mean really free.
Ibori dare not come into the UK, even though he has an unrestricted leave to enter. Maybe even a dual nationality. Money laundering is a serious offence and could earn him a long spell of time at her majesty's prison.
Aondoakaa was just waisting tax payers money pretending he could shiel Ibori from prosecution.
No minister or secretary of state dare interfer with police work, talk less of the judges. The stanrdard for probity may not be perfect but are quite high. The wheels of justice may even be slow but surely it gets there in the end.
Ibori has a really uphill task in the UK courts.

------------

Otumba,

Never you underestimate the capacity of "Nigeria" to corruptly influence any culture or system. I'm wondering why they have not declared Obj, IBB, Abdulsalam, Gen Gusua, and other mega-looters wanted.

Nija too much my brother...

[anonimi]

Next Date for Hearing:

Friday 25th September

Southwark Crown Court

Address

1 English Grounds
(off Battlebridge Lane)
Southwark London
England
SE1 2HU

Thanks for thevery useful update. Though I am not in the UK, I will sms the info to those I know there. Hopefully they will also foward the sms to others and so have a good number show up.
We shall surely OVERCOME these lootocrats- Slowly but surely