Judge Hardy Plays to The Gallery in Ibori Associate’s London Corruption Case

Judge Hardy’s decision to improve the seating arrangements for concerned Nigerians eager to observe the London trial of the associates of former Delta State governor James Ibori today earned him an unprecedented round of emotional applause from Nigerians in the public gallery.

 Despite the objections from the defence council for Christine Ibori-Ibie, Adebimpe Pogoson and Udoamaka Onuigbo, on trial at Southwark Crown Court for an array of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud charges, Judge Hardy sided with the Nigerian common people and showed compassion for those Nigerians who had abandoned other engagements – such as taking a day off work or left their children with childminders – to attend the trial only to be told they would not be able to witness events due to limited seating in the gallery.

Judge Hardy was moved by the contents of a hand-written note passed to him from Nigerians outside courtroom8 at about 2.45pm that kindly asked if arrangements could be made for some people to sit in the unused seating areas away from the public gallery – even though they would be just a few feet away from the defendants.

Judge Hardy told the court: “There is great interest in this case both in Nigeria and among the expatriate community in London. This is clearly apparent. I will emphasise that anyone has the right to come to this court. All Nigerians and everyone else have the right to come to court.”

Even though Judge Hardy stated that he was not blind to the divided loyalties that existed among Nigerians in the gallery for and against the defendants – acknowledging that “people who feel strongly are on one side and supporters in the other” – he said he had no complaints against Nigerians in the public gallery apart from the occasional “mobile phone that rings.”

Handfuls of expatriates who had been outside the court for the morning sessions, by this time had packed into a small corner of the court to hear the judge’s announcement about extra seating.

Many Nigerians were moved by the judge’s words and clapped and cheered in applause.

Judge Hardy stated that due to the importance of the case, involving a highly sensitive documents, the court would be cleared and locked when he is not on seat. He said: “ When I am not in court, the court must be cleared.”