London Court Rejects evidence linking Oando to Ibori
The Southwark Crown Court in London Thursday rejected as part of evidence a document purportedly linking the former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori, with the 30 per cent shares in Oando Oil Plc.
Judge Anthony Pitts had rejected the document, saying since it was not disclosed at the right time, submitting it as an exhibit at confiscation hearing was uncalled for, meaning going through the whole proceedings again.
Pitt said from all points of view, the Crown prosecutor should not present the document as a prosecution material, adding: “I will be happier to say that the document wasn’t disclosed in a normal way.”
The document in question had raised sharp disagreement between Ibori’s defence lawyer, Ivan Krolick and Crown prosecutor, Sasha Wass, when she (Wass) was cross-
examining the prosecution witness, Detective Peter Clark, before the court stood down for lunch.
Shortly after the court resumed sitting at about 2.10p.m., Krolick demanded he had an objection to the document indicting Ibori and Oando.
When Judge Pitt granted him audience, he said the document should not be submitted on the grounds that the prosecuting lawyer waited until the prosecuting witness was cross-examined before it would be relied upon or produced.
Krolick prayed the court not to accept the document, submitting that it was a procedural failure on the prosecuting team to have delayed in submitting the document, which was intended to suggest that his client had shares with Oando and other bogus companies registered in phony names to benefit Ibori.
Another strong opposition played out again when Wass continued to cross-examine Clark and reeled out a lot of Ibori’s properties and bank accounts operated by Udoamaka Okoronkwo.
At this point, Krolick again interjected and told the court that Wass was asking Clark leading questions, which was portraying Ibori in bad light that he owned a lot of shares and had a lot of fictitious companies.
However, Wass insisted that there was a financial link between Ibori and Oando.
She widened her argument and tendered a document indicating that Adebimpe Pogyson, operated chains of companies for Ibori and was actually running businesses for him.
But Clark also corroborated her claims that there were a lot of incriminating documents in her e-mails that indicted them and proved that Pogyson was operating illegitimate business for Ibori.
Wass, who was always eloquent in her presentation or cross-examination with Clark, said she could perfectly demonstrate that there was large scale of money laundering perpetrated by Ibori.
She then presented, served and read a document which she claimed tied up the names of some directors.
The letter was written on behalf of Edgware Resources Limited and contained as directors: J.A. Tinubu, Messrs. Okoloko, Osifo and Boyo.
The shares suspected to be in favour of Ibori is 890,625 in Oando.
When Wass asked Clark if he visited Delta State in 2007 to carry out some investigations regarding Ibori’s loot, he simply said no.
Wass then told the court, and turning to Krolick’s direction said: “You have seen why it was difficult for Clark to carry out full investigation in some matters.”
Wass was, however, not deterred as she further to tell the court where Ibori had his looted wealth including those in South Africa, UK and United States (US).
She also gave a vivid account of cash deposited in different accounts in the UK by Ibori’s sister.
She also read an amusing text message extracted from Ibori’s telephone when he was arrested that greeted Ibori in core Delta language, ‘megwor.’
She said the £50 million Ibori had pleaded guilty to, was a far cry from what he stole.
