(http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/thumbnail.php?file=Ibori_Ok_609195527.jpg&size=article_medium) Ibori The conviction of former Delta State Governor James Ibori in far away Lodon has been described by some lawyers as an indictment on Nigeria’s judiciary.
The lawyers, who spoke in separate chats with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday, said Ibori’s conviction on Tuesday should serve as a warning to all.
Ibori, who pleaded guilty to several charges of money laundering before the Southwark Crown Court, got a 13-year jail term.
In his reaction, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Olisa Agbakoba, said the trial, conviction and sentence showed that a lot needed to be done by the judiciary.
According to the human rights’ activist, this becomes necessary as the Nigerian court had initially found the former governor innocent of several charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commision (EFCC).
Agbakoba, therefore, advised that the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 should be strongly implemented to avoid a repeat of what happened.
His words: “He should have the maximum possible jail term and it is also an indictment on Nigeria as a whole as a nation actually, that the Nigerian political, legal and judicial system could not catch Ibori and it took the English to do that for us.
“So, it’s a shame and an indictment on all of us, absolutely all of us and the lesson is that the president should resolve that this cannot go on. It is a major slap on the face of Nigeria that the English can get this man so I am very upset about it.’’
Also commenting, Mr Femi Falana, a former president of the West African Bar Association (WABA), and also a rights’ crusader, said Nigeria has a lot to learn from the trial and sentence of Ibori.
He said that the English law which found him guilty presupposes a workable judicial system when juxtaposed with Nigeria’s system.
Falana said that the statement by the English prosecution which was very indicting showed that there could be no manipulation of the law.
The lawyer-activist said: “As far as their law is concerned, there is no manipulation as it is the case here. If you read the very indicting statement of the prosecution yesterday you will know that he is in for trouble. Again it is a lesson for Nigeria to learn to apply our own law to the criminal element amongst us.’’
He said Nigerians must intensify the fight against corruption, money laundering and related crimes and also be more focused on the development of our society.
Mr Wale Fapohunda, a former Secretary of the Committee on the Reform of the Judiciary, said that Ibori’s conviction would serve as a big lesson for all Nigerians.
He said that the sentencing of the ex-governor showed that there could be no sacred cows to the issue of global corruption.
According to him, it is sad that Ibori is a Nigerian but the fact remains that other Nigerians should take a cue from his trial and conviction and avoid giving Nigeria a “brand name’’.
Fapohunda urged the Nigerian judiciary to ensure that the provisions of the money laundering act were applied cautiously and without omission.
Another lawyer, Mr Henry Okeke, who is also a human right activist, said it was time Nigerians embrace the fight against corruption which was giving the country a bad name.
“Our judiciary must strive to equip its organs to combat corruption and cases of mismanagement, ’’ Okeke said.
TheNation