Date Published: 12/23/09

Judiciary: Injustice among the powerful

The decision of Justice Marcel Awokulehin of the federal high court Asaba, Delta State in dismissing the charges against the former Governor James Onanefe Ibori and three others is not surprising. Not surprising because we all know that the judge who is on the payroll of Ibori. So, to have quashed the case even when the case has not been tried or the accused taking a plea was only working towards an answer.

The judgment of the court was greeted by wild jubilation from supporters of the governor who besieged the court in large numbers to show solidarity to their thieving governor who is a confirmed ex-convict.

I strongly believe there is a grand conspiracy between the Judge, Ibori and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Kaase Aondoakaa who does not deserve to be a SAN as far as i am concerned.

This is a man who refused to sign a request under the mutual legal assistance treaty since August 2007 as requested by the Crown Prosecution Service; an effort which was seen by many as an attempt to frustrate corrupt charges pending against the former governor.. I n 1997, a UK court froze assets allegedly belonging to him worth $35m (£21m). His annual salary was less than $25,000, you wonder why he is been set free

On behalf of all Nigerians, I am pleading with the judiciary system to rise up to the challenge and support the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in its appeal and also to help the commission and other anti-graft agencies in order to support the fight against corruption for this country to finally move forward for the betterment of our future generation.

The judiciary also needs to look at and do something urgently as far as corruption cases before various courts are concerned, so the members of the EFCC will not be discouraged by the result of case after tireless efforts to see this criminals convicted.

ZAINAB FROM NASARAWA