British Courts overstepped their boundaries.
Former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, has found himself in the midst of an ongoing legal battle in the United Kingdom (UK) over a substantial sum of money linked to him. Following a ruling from Judge David Tomlinson of the Southwark Crown Court, an order has been issued to confiscate a staggering 101.5 million pounds tied to the former governor.
In response to this decision, Ibori has publicly announced his intention to appeal the ruling, stating that the court’s proceedings were difficult to comprehend and accept.
Taking to his Facebook page to express his thoughts, James Ibori referenced a famous quote often attributed to Albert Einstein, “The definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.”
He acknowledged that he must be experiencing some form of madness as he has endured over a decade of persecution by the British Courts against himself and those close to him. Despite the seemingly illogical rulings made against him throughout the years, he had continued to believe in the triumph of justice and fairness.
Ibori recounted some of the bewildering aspects of his legal journey, highlighting instances where evidence of police corruption in his case was evident, leading the lead prosecutor to resign. Furthermore, he mentioned his victory in a 2013 confiscation hearing, during which the Judge was unable to issue an order against him. Nevertheless, the prosecution was allowed to restart the trial years later, leaving Ibori questioning the reliability of the British judicial process.
However, he expressed particular dissatisfaction with Judge Tomlinson’s recent ruling, finding it hard to comprehend and accept. He claimed that the British Courts overstepped their boundaries by passing judgment on contracts awarded in Delta State, Nigeria, which he believed were legitimately awarded and completed. Ibori also contended that the British prosecutors failed to provide any evidence of embezzlement or missing funds from Delta State despite thoroughly investigating his worldwide assets and imposing a restraint order on most of them.
Moreover, Ibori pointed out that many of the assets under restraint were not owned by him, yet the court seemed to consider them his, leading to an order demanding their sale to satisfy the sum in question. He expressed frustration at the order’s requirement for immediate payment, knowing full well that the process of realizing the sale of these assets could take months. He highlighted the existence of an eight-year default sentence, which could be imposed if he chose not to cooperate or pay. However, he reasoned that the prosecution already had a restraint order on the assets, making the situation of non-cooperation or non-payment improbable.
Furthermore, Ibori raised concerns about the potential application of the default sentence if the total amount realized from the sale of the restrained assets fell short of the court’s order. In such a scenario, the prosecution could request a reduced default sentence based on the remaining outstanding amount. He emphasized his determination to challenge such an application vigorously. Under normal circumstances, any discussions of a default sentence would typically be postponed until any pending appeals had been resolved.
Ibori expressed his dismay at what he perceived as a lack of impartiality on the part of the presiding judge. He claimed that the judge ignored all arguments, evidence, and expert witnesses that favored his case. Furthermore, Ibori questioned the delay in delivering the judgment, as it had taken the judge two years to finalize it, during which he had presided over numerous other cases.
Despite the uncertainties and frustrations surrounding his legal battle, Ibori announced his decision to take his case to the Court of Appeal. He questioned whether persisting in the belief that justice might prevail was tantamount to madness, but he remained steadfast in his pursuit of justice. To Ibori, giving up without contesting the court’s ruling would be an admission of defeat and an affront to his people.
In conclusion, the former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, faces a daunting legal challenge in the UK as the court has ordered the confiscation of a substantial amount of money linked to him. Despite a decade of facing prosecution and seemingly illogical rulings, Ibori has continued to believe in the triumph of justice. Nevertheless, the recent ruling from Judge Tomlinson has shaken his faith in the British judicial system, leading him to question the fairness and impartiality of the court’s decision. Undeterred, Ibori has resolved to appeal the ruling, determined to fight for what he believes is right and just. Only time will tell how his legal battle unfolds in the Court of Appeal, and whether justice will indeed prevail in this complex and protracted case.
