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 Daily Independent Online.
* Monday, August 09, 2004.
Ibori: Man heads for court,
claims he was the one convicted
By Rotimi Fadeyi,
Snr Correspondent, Abuja
The
case instituted by two members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
against Delta State Governor James Onanefe Ibori has taken a fresh
dimension as two lawyers have sworn to an affidavit on behalf of a man who
claims he was the one convicted by a Bwari Upper Area Court on September
28, 1995.
Indeed, one
James Onanefe Ochuko Ibori, in the affidavit, has gone to the Abuja High
Court praying to be joined in the case as a defendant and such order of
court as may seem just in the circumstances.
The application
was jointly filed by Emeka
Agbapuonwa and Clem Ezika on behalf of the applicant believed to be
Ochuko’s lawyers just as the
applicant claims he was the one convicted on September 28, 1995 by
a Bwari Upper Court for criminal breach of trust and negligence.
In the
12-paragraph affidavit attached to it, dated August 5, Ochuko Ibori said
he is an itinerary driver who plies his trade throughout the country and
beyond.
According to
him, on the 28 day of September 1995, he was convicted by the Upper Area
Court, Bwari in the Federal Capital Territory in charge number CR. 81/95
on two counts of negligence and criminal breach of trust.
He was sentenced
to one year six months imprisonment or N500 fine for each count. He opted
to pay the fine “which I did the same day”.
Ochuko Ibori
said because of the nomadic nature of the business of truck driving, he
did not have the time to stay long in one place, which meant that it was
only recently his attention was drawn by a friend, Kesiena Toweh, to the
fact that the said conviction is now a subject of litigation by Goodnews
Agbi and Anthony Alabi.
Realising that
he needed to clear the case now pending in court, he consulted his pastor
in Ororokpe, Delta State, who advised him to tell the truth about his
conviction so that an innocent person will not suffer for his sin.
His solicitors
advised him to file an application for joinder. He was also informed that
the parties in the case would not be prejudiced by the application,
instead, it would provide the opportunity to know the truth.
On July 27,
Justice Hussein Mukhtar adjourned further hearing in the case to
September 27 to give time for the police to produce some vital documents
for the defence, led by Milton Paul Ohwovoriole, to establish that it was
not Governor James Ibori who was convicted.
Reacting last night on said
application, counsel to governor Ibori, Mr. Alex Iziyon said they were
not aware of the application neither have they been served with any
papers.
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