Court adjourns Ibori case

The trial judge, Justice Marcel Awokulehin has again adjourned ruling till Thursday, 17th December, 2009. Justice Awokulehin had within two months adjourned ruling on three consecutive times – November 6, November 23 and December 4 – on whether or not to quash the 170-count charges brought against him and others. The Federal High Court Judge […]

The trial judge, Justice Marcel Awokulehin has again adjourned ruling till Thursday, 17th December, 2009. Justice Awokulehin had within two months adjourned ruling on three consecutive times – November 6, November 23 and December 4 – on whether or not to quash the 170-count charges brought against him and others.

The Federal High Court Judge while adjourning the ruling over the weekend said, “The circumstances that led to the previous adjournments have still not changed”. Responding to the ruling, Mr Austin Alegeh (SAN), the lead counsel to Ibori said, “We are not aware of the said circumstances, and more so, it is giving victory to the oppressors (EFCC).

Besides, Alegeh noted that the court of justice is to do justice and not to pervert justice. The Judge has said that he prefers to be on the path of caution and we should see it as so. But he said, “We would have been happier if we had an input before the decision to adjourn was taken. However, we have absolute trust in the judiciary and whatever has occasioned this adjournment would be to the ends of justice,” he said.

But Mr Kayode Oni who led the prosecution team did not respond to the adjournment.