Ibori Still Wanted For Money Laundering In UK

  Kingdom and one who is the subject of corruption allegations in Nigeria."
DCI Sean Wanless of the Met's Economic and Specialist Crime Command said:  " We are extremely pleased with Lord Hughes ruling and will continue to work with the Nigerian authorities to tackle international corruption."
 The second tranche of evidence obtained directly from the Nuhu Ribadu-led Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would not be immediately admissible in evidence due to Mr Aondoakaa's interference in the case, except on two grounds.  The first is that the Metropolitan Police, through the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), re-applied for endorsement from Attorney-General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa in accordance with the interpretation of the Mutual Legal Agreement Treaty (MLAT), since he allegedly opposed the use of the evidence in the first place, (due to his closeness to Ibori and expressed intention to frustrate the trial in the first instance.)
  Secondly, prosecuting attorneys of the Crown Prosecution Service might appeal to the trial judge at the Magistrate Court to look passionately at the evidence, in accordance with section 78 of the Police & Criminal Evidence Act 1984, to admit the evidence regardless of how it was obtained. The history of Mr. Ibori and his wife, Theresa, might prove useful in getting a favorable ruling in this regard, but it will depend on the discretion of the judge .
  Meanwhile, Ibori's co-accused in Kaduna, Udo Amaka Okoronkwo continues to languish in the Holloway prison in the UK after she was repatriated from France where she was picked up on a European warrant. Mrs. Okoronkwo's lawyers have tactically avoided applying for bail pending the decision of the London High Court, and it is expected that she will come forward to make bail applications now that the ruling is over and the Metropolitan police will likely ask for stringent bail conditions.
Last week, the Court of Appeal in Kaduna ordered the chief judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria to "re-assign" Ibori's case to the jurisdiction where the crime was committed.
Legal analysts have cried foul.  Many of them stressed that the Federal High Court in Nigeria has jurisdiction over federal crimes and suspects could be tried anywhere in the country, similar to a court of Appeal ruling in Kaduna regarding a businessman and Social Democratic Party (SDP) and June 12 election winner, M.K.O Abiola.
    Some of the analysts also pointed to the case of Niger Delta militant, Henry Orkar, who is currently standing trial before a Federal High Court in Jos for offences he allegedly committed in the Niger Delta region.
 But the favorable ruling for Ibori was aimed at ending the remainder of the cases proffered against corrupt former governors, majority of who have already instructed their lawyers to file fresh motions asking for their cases to be repatriated to the jurisdiction of their choices. Most of the former governors are currently standing trial for money laundering in federal high courts in jurisdiction outside their states of origin. Despite being tried in Kaduna by a federal high court judge, Ibori with the support of his cousin and current governor or Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan transported thugs from Delta State in large numbers. They attacked the court building and assaulted EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Jacobs, during his pre-trial hearing.


Ndigbo In Diaspora Condemns Incessant Kidnapping

Pan Ndi-Igbo Foundation (PNF, USA), an umbrella organization of Ndigbo in diaspora has strongly condemned the incessant kidnapping and lack of respect for the dignity of human life in Nigeria
The body unequivocally condemned the incessant kidnapping of innocent people particularly in the South East and the recent killings of the Igbo and other Christians in the Northern Nigeria, especially in Jos. We hold the federal government responsible for the decay in law and order. “Democracy will never thrive in a society that does not respect the dignity of human life and respect for people's property”.  The body said “it is the duty of the federal government to protect life and property of the citizens of Nigeria since it is in total control of the security apparatus of the country.
In a press release signed by the National Chairman, Mr. Geoffrey Nzeadibe and National General Secretary, Mazi Felix Okereke respectively, the group said the increasing wave of kidnapping or hostage-taking in the south eastern Nigeria should be a concern for everyone. They therefore urged well-meaning Nigerians not only to condemn the atrocities meted out against any ethnic group, particularly the Igbo, but also fight with the government to wipe out those individuals perpetrating the cruel and crude act of kidnapping.
The insecurity in Nigeria due to kidnappings, killings, and destroying of property has the potential to stifle foreign investments and remittances from Nigerians abroad. We demand security of life and properties from the federal government, the group said.
As we have stated in the past, that leading democracies around the world allow their citizens living abroad to participate in the elections of the home countries. These countries have been doing so and have made provision for her citizens residing in different parts of the world to participate in their respective elections and we believed that Nigeria should join in the league of countries that give each of their citizens the opportunity and right to speak with his/her vote. Again, PNF said they are asking the legislature to enact this into law and give the President the authority to prepare Nigerian Embassies and Consulates overseas to handle the next election.