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PDP suspends Ibori’s accusers
CAJETAN MMUTA,
Asaba
PLAINTIFFS in the
ex-convict case, Messrs Goodnews Goodman Agbi and Anthony Alabi, together with
one Mr. Moses Oddiri were suspended yesterday suspended for one month by the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) even as Gov. James Ibori of Delta State demanded
that the Federal Government probe the alleged forgery of documents in the
matter.
Twenty-four hours earleir, the Abuja High
Court had ruled that Gov. Ibori was not the James Onanefe Ibori convicted by the
Bwari-Abuja Upper Area Court in 1995.
Messrs Agbi, Alabi and Oddiri were
hammered by the Delta State branch of PDP for their roles in the ex-convict
case.
According to a statement from the party’s
secretariat, dated November 9, 2004 with number DT/PDP/AN/100 and signed by the
state publicity secretary, Mr. John Nanni, the three are to face the state
disciplinary committee of the party for alleged anti-party activities.
By the announcement, "they are to appear
before the state Disciplinary Committee within two weeks. The state disciplinary
committee is hereby directed to commence the process of their trial in line with
the party’s constitution," the statement said.
Gov. Ibori, who spoke at the enlarged
interdenominational thanksgiving service organised by the state to celebrate his
victory in the protracted ex-convict trial, at the indoor sports complex of
Asaba Township Stadium, yesterday, said the investigation and prosecution of his
persecutors had become necessary because of their alleged ploy to ridicule the
judiciary and the stability of the nation.
Ibori alleged that the "detractors" who
"fabricated the evil plot "to rope him into the matter were determined to derail
the path of peace and progress which the present democratic experiment ahd
brought to the state.
According to him unfortunately the
plotters and their alleged sponsors underestimated the capacity of citizens of
the state and the entire Nigeria in their unshaken resolve to defend the hard
earned democracy.
Ibori, who arrived the venue of the church
service at exactly 12.43 pm, decked in his traditional Urhobo attire and
radiating confidence and joy, blamed the plotters for their ignorance in not
recognizing the innocent and the just, pointing out that because of this the
hand of God frustrated them.
According to him, it was not enough that
the plaintiffs in the ex-convict case have been exposed by the Abuja High Court
judgement, they must be made to face the wrath of the laws of the land.
Governor Ibori said their action had
implications for individual integrity, reputation and indeed the corporate
existence of the country even as he stressed that the entire state and himself
the primary targets of the machination.
"Although Delta State and I were the
primary targets of the fraudsters involved in our trial, their action had
dangerous implication for individual integrity, reputation and indeed our
nation. It is not enough that they have been exposed by the court. All those
behind the forgery and stealing of documents must be investigated by the Federal
Government and prosecuted for ridiculing the judiciary, and the stability of the
nation," he stated.
He reiterated this resolve not take
vengeance and innocence.
"I owe nobody any grudge and that is from
the bottom of my heart. I have never gone to the police to take anybody on bail.
I wanted to know whether Awwal Yusuf of Bwari Area Court was victim of the
conspiracy," he said in apparent reference to the encounter between him and the
former Bwari Magistrate during the case.
The governor lauded Justice Hussein Muktar
of the Abuja High Court for his display of courage, fairness and impartiality as
well as the justices of the nation’s Supreme Court for their sagacity and
doggedness in the face of provocative and sinister attacks on their integrity,
noting that with the laudmark judgement, Nigeria’s judiciary had lived up to its
reputation as the impregnable fortress of democracy and as a beacon of hope for
the masses.
Ibori also commended the team of gallant
lawyers who defended the state from the shame that would have befallen it and
for ensuring that victory was won.
In his sermon at the service Bishop of the
Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Asaba Diocese, Rt. Rev. Nicholas Okoh,
said the trial of Gov. Ibori was a parading of the persecution of Jesus Christ
who sacrificed His Life to save mankind in the face of numerous challenges and
ridicules in the hands of the authorities and powers of darkness with grave
allegations.
Bishop Okoh noted that by the victorious judgement, Gov.
Ibori had risen above the alleged powers and forces of evil which have
permanently been put to shame and destroyed.
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