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Embattled former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori
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A court in the
United Arab
Emirates has
granted bail to
a former
governor of
Delta State, Mr.
James Ibori, on
health grounds.
Reports said
Ibori, whose
health had
deteriorated
rapidly since
his arrest and
detention in May
2010 in Dubai,
was freed by a
court in the UAE
city last
Wednesday.
The former
governor has
been held in
Dubai on a
pending
deportation
order.
He had been
expected to be
extradited to
the United
Kingdom to face
trial on money
laundering and
other sundry
charges.
There are
indications that
he may have
regained freedom
based on a UAE
law against
double trial.
An Arab
newspaper, Gulf
News, reports
that Article 268
of the UAE
Criminal
Procedures Law
stipulates that
“a criminal
lawsuit is
dropped against
any suspect who
has already been
prosecuted and
tried over the
same crime.”
Dubai’s highest
court had on
December 13,
2010 approved
the extradition
request lodged
by Dubai
prosecutors
against the
former governor.
The Dubai Court
of Cessation had
approved the
extradition
request, which
was lodged by
the UK
authorities
through the
Office of Dubai
Public
Prosecution,
against Ibori
who was arrested
in Dubai on an
Interpol
warrant.
In their
presentation to
the Court of
Cessation, the
Dubai
prosecutors had
stated that he
was wanted for
extradition for
the same crimes
of which he was
acquitted in
Delta.
Ibori’s lawyer
Ali Musabbeh,
had argued that
the ex-governor
had already been
acquitted by the
Federal High
Court, Asaba of
a 170-count
charge of money
laundering,
swindling,
deception and
unlawful
profitingwhile
in office.
“The British
authorities do
not have the
right to ask for
his extradition
and have him
retried for
crimes he had
already been
acquitted of.
The UK
authorities
claimed that new
evidence popped
up against the
suspect and
that’s why they
lodged the
extradition
request.
“It is against
the UAE’s
Criminal
Procedures Law
to put a person
to trial after
having been
acquitted,”
Musabbeh had
argued.
Dubai
prosecutors had
referred Ibori’s
case in
September 2010
to the Dubai
Appeal Court to
consider the UK
extradition
request.
Prosecutors
lodged the
extradition
request against
Ibori on the
grounds that he
was declared
wanted in the UK
but the Appeal
Court ruled that
Ibori should be
extradited to
the UK.
Acting upon a
red corner
arrest warrant
issued through
Interpol, Dubai
Police
investigators
had arrested
Ibori at a five
star hotel in
Palm Jumeirah.
He was initially
bailed and later
he was detained.
When contacted
on Saturday, the
Press Secretary
of the British
High Commission,
Mr. Nouruzi
Hooman, said,
“We are aware of
reports, but
await details.”
Meanwhile, the
Head, media and
publicity of the
Economic and
Financial Crimes
Commission that
is responsible
for Ibori’s
prosecution said
that he was not
aware of the
ex-governors
release.
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