Ibori: Lawyers Chart Path For Nigerian Judiciary

Some lawyers in Lagos have described the conviction of former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, by a London court on corruption charges as a slap on Nigeria’s judiciary.

The lawyers, who spoke in separate interviews with newsmen said Ibori’s conviction last Tuesday should serve as a warning to all.

Ibori, who pleaded guilty to several counts of money laundering before the Southwark Crown Court, was handed down 13 years jail term.

In his reaction, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Olisa Agbakoba, said the trial, conviction and sentence showed that a lot needed to be done by the Nigerian judiciary.

According to the human right activist, this becomes necessary as the Nigerian court had initially found the former governor innocent of several charges brought against him by the EFCC.

Agbakoba, therefore, advised that the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act 2011 should be strongly implemented to avoid a repeat of what happened.

Also commenting on Ibori’s conviction, Mr Femi Falana, a former president of the West African Bar Association (WABA), and also a human right activist, said Nigeria has a lot to learn from the trial and sentence of Ibori.

He said that the English law which found him guilty presupposes a workable judicial system when juxtaposed with Nigeria’s system.

Falana said that the statement by the English prosecution which was very indicting showed that there could be no manipulation of the law.

He said Nigerians must intensify the fight against corruption, money laundering and related crimes and also be more focused on the development of our society.

A former Secretary of the Committee on the Reform of the Judiciary, Mr Wale Fapohunda said that Ibori’s conviction would serve as a big lesson for all Nigerians.

According to him, it is sad that Ibori is a Nigerian but the fact remains that other Nigerians should take a cue from his trial and conviction and avoid giving Nigeria a “bad name’’.

Fapohunda urged the Nigerian judiciary to ensure that the provisions of the money laundering act were applied cautiously and without omission.

Another lawyer, Mr Henry Okeke, who is also a human right activist, said it was time Nigerians embrace the fight against corruption which was giving the country a bad name.

“Our judiciary must strive to equip its organs to combat corruption and cases of mismanagement.”

Okeke urged Nigerians to shun corrupt practice and join hands in fostering a sustainable development for the country.