ABUJA—THE on-going identification trial at the Abuja High Court to ascertain the James Onanefe Ibori that was convicted on September 28, 1995 on a compound charge of negligent conduct and criminal breach of trust has assumed a new dimension after an itinerant truck driver calling himself James Onanefe Ochuko Ibori approached the Abuja High Court, weekend, saying he was the real person convicted and not the incumbent governor of Delta State as being speculated.
Defence team of Gov. Ibori denied knowledge of the man but lead prosecution counsel in the matter, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), said the defence in the matter was in disarray, and that the joinder application filed by Ochuko was nothing but another “strange attempt” by Governor James Ibori to look for an irrelevant straw to cling to.
Ochuko, in his application, now pending before Justice Hussein Murktar of the Abuja High Court, is praying for an order joining him as an intervener cum defendant in the on-going identification trial ordered by the Supreme Court early this year.
The self-confessed convict contended in a 12-point affidavit accompanying his application that he waited for so long to come out because he did not know that his conviction which he had put behind himself, was causing an innocent person a lot of embarrassment and unrest. He further said that immediately his attention was drawn to the fact by one of his friends, one Kesienah Toweh, that his conviction nine years ago at the Bwari Upper Area Court was the subject of litigation before the Abuja High Court, he had to approach his pastor for counselling.
According to him, his father in the Lord and Pastor of Gods Power Prayer and Deliverance Ministry situated at Orerokpe in Delta State advised him to hastily give himself up and tell the truth about his conviction and sentence so that an innocent person would not suffer for his misconduct and sin.
Ochuko did not, however, mention the name of his father in the Lord who counselled him. But according to him, without wasting further time after the counselling from the man of God, he hurriedly walked into a lawyer’s chambers in Abuja wherein he consulted two solicitors, Messrs Emeka Agbapuonwu and Clems Ezika, who advised him to file an application for joinder so that he could be heard in the on-going identification trial with the resultant purpose of staving off the embarrassment being suffered by the Governor of Delta, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, over same matter.
According to him, the parties in the on-going suit would not be prejudiced in any way if he was so joined, stressing that granting his prayer would even avail the court the opportunity to know the whole truth about the real James Onanefe Ibori that was convicted nine years ago.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the joinder application. But the substantive case is expected to resume September 27, this year when judges who are now on vacation resume duty next month.
However, counsel to Gov. Ibori, Mr Alex Izinyin (SAN), said the defence had not seen the papers filed by the man.
Ibori desperate, says Gani
Speaking on the latest development, Chief Fawehinmi said:: “I think the governor is totally desperate. It is clear that they are looking for any straw they can cling to. They are just clinging to any straw. Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah…ah, ah, ah, ah strange things are happening in the camp of the defence. Absolutely strange things. This is a matter that has been to the Supreme Court before it was sent back for retrial to identify the James Onanefe Ibori that was convicted in 1995.
“And now that the identification trial has started, nobody came out. What did you call his name? Ok, one James Onanefe Ochuko Ibori now came out after the prosecution had closed its case and the defendants opened its, saying he was the one convicted, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, the defendants are definitely in disarray.
“Let me say loud and clear that the plaintiffs’ case is cast iron. The defendants are in disarray. They are looking for any irrelevant straw they can cling to. They have now complicated their case. But we will definitely meet in court,” he added.
