AS the hearing on confiscation of assets of former Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori, reached its fifth day at the Southwark Crown Court last Friday, prosecution witness, former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, revealed to the court that the then Inspector-General (IG) of Police, Mike Okiro, was behind the two failed assassination attempts on his life and not Ibori himself.
Ribadu, who spent Friday in the witness box and was cross-examined by both the defence and prosecution barristers, also revealed to the court that “Ibori was responsible for Okiro’s appointment as IG.” “He recommended him to the late president, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. They – Ibori and Okiro – were extremely close,” Ribadu replied, under cross-examination from Crown prosecutor, Sasha Wass.
But Ibori’s defence lawyer, Ivan Krolick, spent the entire morning and the afternoon drilling Ribadu in the witness box.
The former EFCC boss, who came to court in immaculate white guinea brocade and black cap, didn’t have a comfortable time in the box as Krolick repeatedly questioned him in his bid to discredit his claim over the Ibori $15 million bribe.
Source: Guardian
