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

Mr Andrew Trollope QC, defence counsel for Christine Ibie-Ibori, expressed concerns about the new seating arrangements that would have allowed roughly 30 more people into the court.

He said it would be a “pity” if the defence teams and the defendants were to be “any more compromised”. Judge Hardy said I could consider the matter overnight.  

The second week of the high profile trial attracted a mixed bunch of supporters, friends and concerned Nigerians who packed into the gallery to observe the trial.

 At roughly 10.55am defendants Uduaka Onuigbo and Christine Ibie-Obiri strolled into Court 8 to take their seats in the dock. Not much later Adebimpe Pogoson arrived and took her seat in the row of seats in front of the co-accused.

The hearing began soon after 11am but was soon stalled for about 30 minutes for fresh documentation to be viewed by all parties and for one document to arrive electronically from Nigeria.

Defence counsel Mr Trollope QC said more time was needed to look at the information and that it would be unwise to a make a resolution about events happening in Nigeria.

Mr Trollope said the defence had been in touch with Mr Ibori’s lawyers about detailed information about his own case and details for an application for dismissal on 26 October.

He said the High Court in Asaba, the tribunal dealing with Mr Ibori’s case, had sent via its registrar a statement about the case and that this morning he had been in contact with the registrar in Asaba.

Mr Trollope said the registrar needs to obtain a letter from the judge in Asaba before the letter relating to the status of Mr Ibori’s case could be sent electronically.

Judge Hardy said the defendants’ application for dismissal must be made in the Court of Appeal. Even though he had the power to grant the dismissal, he said the defendants are free to exercise their right to go to the Court of Appeal.

Once back from the adjournment, discussions between prosecution and defence focused on disclosure of a statement from Detective Inspector Gary Walters, of the Economic and Financial Crime Command of the Metropolitan Police.

Defence counsel Mr Trollope said he found “the attitude of the prosecution puzzling and unsustainable” in its attempt to prevent Detective Inspector Walters’ statement from being submitted at that point in time.

Walters’ statement, believed to be in the possession of the prosecution, relates to the British police officer’s communication with an official at the EFCC.

The defence pushed for Det. Inspector Walters’ statement to be presented. But the prosecution rejected the request, claiming the officer will be crossed-examined anyway.

The court broke for lunch until 2.45pm, at which time more Nigerian observers were waiting outside the packed courtroom. Frustrated at the lack of seating, a note was passed to Judge Hardy through the court clerk. The judge’s response was to consider the request for more seating.

Some Nigerians said Judge Hardy’s decision to allocate more seating struck a blow for the Nigerian people.

One observer, who witnessed today’s events but did not want to be named, said: “Judge Hardy has shown that he is fair and hard. He has rejected the calls to throw-out this case from his court. He has rejected calls to ban Nigerian press coverage. Today he has considered our request for more Nigerians to be part of this case by their presence. The worm is definitely turning for the Nigerian people.”      

Emenike Pio

30 September 2009