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Ex-convict saga: Ibori opens defence
•Plaintiffs deny withdrawal
FELIX DURUMBAH, News Editor, MALACHY UZENDU, Abuja, SEGUN JAMES,
Warri
GOVERNOR
James Ibori of Delta State is expected to open his defence in the ex-convict
suit before the Abuja High Court today.
The development was foreshadowed yesterday
by doubts on whether the matter would still go ahead following speculations that
the plaintiffs, Messrs Goodnews Goodman Agbi and Tony Alabi, had withdrawn the
action against the governor who they accused of being the James Onanefe Ibori
convicted in 1995 by the Bwari Upper Area Court, an allegation flatly denied by
the governor.
Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark had told
newsmen in Warri, yesterday, that Agbi had in a letter purported to withdraw the
suit and "settle out of court" following "previous interaction and consultations
far and wide."
But, last night, Agbi told Daily
Champion on phone that "we have not withdrawn the suit."
According to him, what happened was that
Chief Clark and others piled pressure on the plaintiffs to drop the suit in the
interest of the state, "but being a respected elder, we told him ‘Ok, sir, we’ve
heard you’ since one cannot deny elders a request to their faces."
Agbi insisted that they have not withdrawn
the matter in court, adding that the plaintiffs would be represented in court
today.
Messrs Agbi and Alabi had instituted the
suit against Gov. Ibori alleging that having been convicted, the governor was
constitutionally unfit to contest the 2003 general elections where he sought
re-election.
Throughout last month, the prosecution
counsel, led by Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) had canvassed arguments to buttrress
the allegation, calling in witnesses including the Judge of the Bwari Court,
Justice Mohammed Awaal Yusuf and the Chief Registrar of the Abuja High court,
who gave evidence that tended to give credence to the allegation.
There were also indications that truck
driver, James Onanefe Oduko Ibori, who claimed that he was the convicted Ibori
would no longer appear in court to give evidence.
Even though Ochuko Ibori had sworn to an
affidavit that the Delta State governor should be left alone as he (Ochuko) was
the one who faced trial and got convicted, he was alleged to have denied not to
press on with his joinder application because the security top brass failed to
accede to his request for security cover to enable him appear in court.
Contacted, Mr. Chris Olakpe, Police
spokesman, stated that it was up to the said Ochuko Ibori to come to court or
not and that how he chooses to do that is entirely up to him and not with the
police.
Governor Ibori through his lawyers, led by Chief Milton
Paul Owhavoriole (SAN), had debunked claims of his having been convicted by any
court.
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