The assets confiscation hearing of
former Delta State Governor James Ibori came to an abrupt end yesterday, as the
Judge, Anthony Pitts, granted the crown prosecution’s request to adjourn for
retrial.
The prosecution said it needed time
to get more evidence against the former governor after both the prosecution and
defence have made their submissions in the hearing.
The presiding Judge, Pitts said: “I
feel that this case inevitably requires decision that is probably based on
proper evidence. This matter must proceed in a way to make proper decision. It
seems to me to hear some more evidence. I need to be in a much better position
more than I am now to make a better position. I am going to adjourn this
proceeding till early next year.”
The lead counsel to the former
governor, QC Krolic said: “The making of confiscation determinations is
governed by different procedural requirement from trial procedures and
different standard of proof to be applied.
“When it comes to trial and
sentencing, the court is not concerned with numbers.”
The court adjourns till Dec 19 for
preliminary direction of the confiscation proceeding.
A report quoted Ibori as reacting to
the development thus: “After 8 years of criminal investigations, five
adjournments and over fifty trips to Nigeria, the prosecution failed to provide
any tangible evidence to support their claim that I defrauded Delta State,
their case collapsed to such an extent that on the last day of a three weeks
hearing, they were humbled into making an application to the judge for
permission to start again which he Judge unceremoniously granted.”
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