I feel like crying for naija when i read stories like this!! hah o ma se o. Niger deltans would continue to rot in penury while their "heroes" loot them to the bones. Please from now on, no niger deltan should open mouth complain again about the conditions there, as they have shown that they are a people that that rejoice for thieves, support theives and protect thieves. 

                    LAGOS — A LONDON court yesterday lifted its August 2, 2007 worldwide order preventing the immediate past governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, Erin Aviation and others from dealing with their £35 million property in London.

The Southwark Crown Court also ordered the Crime Prosecution Service which brought the matter against Chief Ibori and the other parties to pay costs in respect of the restraint order.

Judge Goymer declared that the evidence against Chief Ibori was not strong enough to sustain the order. Counsel for the Crown, Jonathan Hall, had conceded at the hearing on August 2, 2007 that there was “something of a dearth of evidence against James Ibori.”

Judge Goymer had also said that at the resumed hearing yesterday he would “need to be satisfied that the Crown had made progress” and that “there was a real prospect of prosecuting the Respondent.”
Judge Goymer deemed “two months sufficient opportunity for the Crown to interview Chief Ibori and reach a decision on whether or not to charge him.”

Mr Hall relied heavily on Chief Ibori’s alleged false declarations as evidence of corruption - “false declarations alone do not give rise to corruption.”

Chief Ibori’s counsel, Mr. Ivan Pearce, in his defence said “there is no predicate offence in Nigeria.”
Judge Goymer in his judgment said: “I have allowed the Crown two months to put new material before the Court to support the allegations against Chief Ibori. If anything, on the material before me today there is less cause for me to believe that Chief Ibori has benefitted from criminal conduct in Nigeria.”

Celebrations in Delta

Reacting to the development, the Delta State government through the Commissioner for Information, Mr Oma Djebah, said: “This is not just a victory for Chief James Onanefe Ibori but also a victory for all Deltans both in the state and in the diaspora as well as the state government.”

He said the court’s decision was widely welcomed in the state and greeted with jubilation in places like Asaba, Warri, Sapele and Ughelli. “People were calling me from Warri when they heard the news over the radio. So, all Deltans were in jubilation,” he said.
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan yesterday directed that there would be a thanksgiving service at the City Hall, Government House, Asaba to express gratitude to God for the victory.

“The thanksgiving, Mr Djebahsaid, “will serve as an avenue to thank all Deltans for their solidarity, love and demonstration of commitment to the three-point agenda of Dr Uduaghan‘s administration.”


“It is in demonstration of Governor Uduaghan‘s gratitude to God for the victory which has brought tremendous joy and further happiness across the state, that a thanksgiving be held tomorrow (today) to thank God and celebrate with all people of Delta State for their show of love and overwhelming support,” the commissioner stated.[/b]


http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/headline/f102102007.html