Date Published: 11/03/09

Ibori's Trial: Delta Elders want Justice Awokulehim kicked out

The Chairman of Delta State Elders forum, Chief  Edwin Clark, has urged the Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), Justice Legbo Kutigi to remove Justice Mercel Awokulehim of the Asaba division of the Federal high Court, as presiding  judge when the case against Ex- delta Governor James Ibori resumes on Friday . 

Clark argued that “ in the interest of justice and fairplay for the same judge whose reply to the charges of gross misconduct has not been investigated and cleared of the grave allegations, to sit in court over the case on the 6 th of November, 2009, in fact two days after the answer to the query” 

This was contained in a letter dated October30, 2009, and signed by Clark, made available to pointblanknews.com on Tuesday. 

The CJN had queried Justice Awokulehim on October 21 2009, with ref number NJC/FHC/DM/111/830, directing him to explain within two weeks, allegations of misconduct in the case of FRN vs James Ibori & Anor.  

The former senator and Federal commissioner maintained further that “ the circumstances surrounding the creation of the Asaba Division of the Federal High Court and the appointment of  the trial judge, are of great concern to our people whose properties were allegedly looted by the accused Chief James Ibori…”