Agbaje, Aturu, Fawehinmi back Ibori’s re-arraignment

[TheNation]

  Ibori  Some eminent lawyers on Thursday in Lagos said that former Delta State governor, James Ibori, could be re-arraigned in Nigeria after serving by his jail term in the United Kingdom.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a chat in Lagos that the re-arraignment would be legal, but should not be on the same charges for which he had been convicted.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on Wednesday said that it would re-arrest and prosecute Ibori after his jail term in the UK.

Ibori was on Tuesday jailed for 13 years by a London Court for fraud and money laundering to the tune of 50 million pounds sterling.

Rights activist and lawyer, Mr. Fred Agbaje, said the EFCC had the powers to re-arraign Ibori.

Agbaje, a part-time postgraduate law lecturer at the Lagos State University, said, ``Ibori should be re-arraigned and tried for what he has done to bring Nigeria to shame. ’’

He explained that Ibori’s conviction and sentencing in London should not stop the preferring of fresh charges against him.

The lawyer, however, expressed concern that sentiments from Ibori’s state, Delta, could make his re-arraignment difficult.

``The Delta State Government is sitting in limbo and has even declared that Ibori did not steal from its coffers.

``With the state acting as Ibori’s foot soldiers, it will be a difficult job for the EFCC,’’ Agbaje said.

Commenting, social critic and lawyer, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, urged the EFCC to ensure the re-arraignment of Ibori on his repatriation from Britain.

“`Ibori must be prosecuted here; the EFCC will not breach the constitution if it institutes fresh charges against him,’’ Aturu said.

Mr. Mohammed Fawehinmi, son of late legal icon, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, urged the EFCC to come up with concrete evidence to convict Ibori again.

``We hope the EFCC would not botch the trial,’’ he said.



TheNation

[TheNation]