A federal high court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, has deferred ruling on an application brought by a former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, to quash the 170 charges brought against him and others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) till December 17.

Ruling on the application had earlier been deferred on November 6. The judge, Justice Marcel Awokulehin, said at the hearing of the case, on Friday, that the deferment was necessitated by certain circumstances which were still persisting.

According to Justice Awokulehin, he was deferring the ruling because he “wanted to err on the side of caution.” Leader of Ibori’s legal team, Mr. Austin Alegeh (SAN), said, “We are not aware of the circumstances you referred to. But if it is what has been written on the pages of the newspapers, none of the sides in this case, neither the defence nor the prosecution, has said anything in the newspapers.”

Reacting, the judge said, “But the circumstances have not shifted. I will still like to err on the side of law. As far as the ruling is concerned, trials are not done on the pages of newspapers. To even discuss such matters in newspapers is subjudice. My not delivering the ruling today is not out of intimidation.”

Speaking with journalists after the hearing, Alegeh said the defence still had trust in the judiciary and “we believe that whatever occasioned the adjournment would be in the interest of justice.” Counsel for EFCC, Mr. Kayode Oni, did not react to the deferment.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/05122009/news/news4.html.