UK Money Laundering Trial: Nkoyo Ibori Throws Bombshell …Name Delta top govt Officials

It was high drama full with suspense and unbelievable revelations when, wife of the erstwhile Governor of Delta State, Mrs. Nkoyo Ibori, entered the witness box in another leg of the epic trial of the Ibori dynasty in a London Court.

Reliable information suggests that Nkoyo Ibori knew too well that the game was up. She knew that there was no hiding place for her and her husband, James Onanefe Ibori. Already, her sister-in-law, Christine Ibie had been convicted and is serving jail term. In local parlance, her mate, that is, Ibori’s mistress, Udoamaka, is also cooling her feet in a London prison having been sentenced over her handling of Ibori’s ill-gotten wealth.

Nkoyo, we learnt, came to court, ready to spit fire and make explicit but mind boggling revelations which have seriously indicted her husband and a top government official in Delta State who served as SSG under the Ibori’s

administration. Nkoyo is not prepared to go down alone. She knew that the case is an open one and that no amount of legal maneuver would be able to free her. The allegations against her are not novel. They are exactly the same for which Ibie and Uduamaka are already in prisons: Money Laundering, aiding and abetting stealing an official theft.

Nkoyo’s submissions so far in court have put Ibori in tight corners if he is eventually brought to London for trials. Those government officials also named by Nkoyo will also have cases to answer when they eventually leave office.

UK prosecutors trying former Delta State First Lady Theresa Nkoyo Ibori today painted a detailed portrait of Mrs. Ibori’s extensive role in her husband’s looting of public funds. The prosecutors also implicated a former SSG and a close allied of Ibori in the multiple fraudulent deals through which Mr. Ibori looted the treasury.

Friday’s closing statement was also a preview of the case that UK prosecutors are likely to make if they succeed in getting Mr. Ibori extradited to the UK from Dubai. Ibori recently appealed the ruling by a judge in Dubai that he should be sent to the UK to face money-laundering charges.

Lead prosecutor Sasha Wass, QC told the jury that Mrs. Ibori paid £2.2 million pounds in cash for a swanky home in Hampstead less than two years after her husband’s inauguration as governor. Ms. Wass, QC told the jury that not only did former Governor James Ibori obtain the house by fraudulent means but also that Mrs. Ibori was aware of it since her husband puts her in charge of the transaction.

The Crown prosecutors described the fraudulent acquisition of the Hampstead property as the beginning of Mrs. Ibori’s rise to extreme wealth.

Ms. Wass asked the jury to consider the Iboris’ criminal record, including their conviction in the UK for petty theft a few years before Mr. Ibori maneuvered his way into the governor’s mansion in Asaba. Prosecutors also laid out how US authorities investigated Ibori’s million-dollar deposit in a US bank in 1994. She told the jury that US law enforcement agents concluded that Ibori lied when he claimed to have received the funds for consultancy work. As Saharareporters detailed earlier, Mr. Ibori forfeited $400,000 out of the $1 million to the US government.

A legal analyst in court told Saharareporters that the prosecution “did a superb job of portraying Mr. and Mrs. Ibori as a tag-team criminal partnership.” He added, “Money is seized in the US only when there’s probable cause –or what UK law calls reasonable suspicion.”

UK prosecutors told the jury today that Ibori only had to provide evidence of the legitimacy of the funds, but he opted to part with a huge chunk of it in order to settle the case. Ms. Wass stated that the transaction marked Ibori’s entrance into the criminal big leagues. She also observed that, contrary to Mrs. Ibori’s attempt to deny knowledge of Ibori’s criminal activity, the former First Lady was fully aware of her husband’s illicit financial deals in the US as well as the UK.

Ms. Wass reminded the jury that Mrs. Ibori went along with her husband’s decision to falsify his date of birth in order to conceal his criminal past and convictions in the UK. Under cross-examination, Theresa Ibori had acknowledged that she found her husband’s action to be wrong, but said it was against the tradition in her adopted culture to challenge him. However, Ms. Wass reminded the jury that Mrs. Ibori had indeed challenged her husband on other issues.

Prosecutors revealed how Mr. Ibori made misleading declarations of his assets. He did not declare his foreign bank accounts. In 1999 he only declared his homes in Nigeria as well as a flat in Abbey Road, St Johns Wood area in London. For cash in bank, he declared a debt of more than N1 million while cash in hand was about N400, 000 thousand. In 2007, Mr. Ibori declared another house in London, but fraudulently understated its value. Even though the house was worth £3 million, Ibori declared it as worth £300,000.

Prosecutors accused the former governor, with his wife’s knowledge, of systematically mis-stating the value of his property. They also told the jury that, by 2007, Mr. Ibori had added three more properties in the UK as well as homes in Texas and South Africa. He also had established a series of off shores trust funds in safe haven islands for himself, his wife and children. Yet, in his assets declaration form in Nigeria, when he was asked to indicate cash abroad, he entered “non-applicable.”

Ms. Wass revealed how Mr. Ibori established several companies, including MER Engineering, and used them as fronts to award contracts to himself. Ibori’s companies also received contracts and revenues from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation.

By 2007, Ibori’s wealth had become astonishing, said UK prosecutors. They pointed to the testimony of the EFCC’s 

Yahaya Bello that Ibori’s mistress, Udoamaka Okoronkwo (nee Onuigbo), set up three front companies that tendered for and received numerous contracts during Ibori’s tenure as governor. Ms. Wass stated that the three companies belonging to the same person tendered for and competed for the same contract. The arrangement ensured that Ibori’s concubine – who was fronting for him – got the contract.

Investigators accused a Delta state official (name withheld) who prior to 2007 served as secretary to the state government (SSG), of facilitating the illicit deals. Most of the contracts that went to one of Ibori’s front companies –Sagicom, Rivbed or Sigares – were heavily over-inflated. Prosecutors revealed that most of the contracts were for N1.8 billion or above, including the supply of fine wine and beverages.

Ms. Wass disclosed that Ms. Okoronkwo was responsible for transferring the proceeds out of Nigeria where the funds were invested for Ibori. Ms. Okoronkwo was also often used as a conduit to pay for Ibori’s properties in the UK. It was revealed that, by the end of 2003, Okoronkwo had deposited more than £3 million in the trust fund that was meant to benefit Theresa, her children and Mr. Ibori. Sagicom was the corporate vehicle Okoronkwo used to channel the funds.

Prosecutors showed that Ms. Okoronkwo engaged in forgery of documents on her computer that Mr. Ibori then signed. The forged documents were meant to deceive bankers in the UK as well as safe havens around the world. Ms. Wass said that Okoronkwo worked for both James and Theresa Ibori, dismissing Mrs. Ibori’s suggestion that she and Udoamaka were fighting over Mr. Ibori. Instead, according to Ms. Wass, the two women helped the same man to siphon money that belonged to the people of Delta State and Nigeria.

On a day filled with legal drama, including defence protests that the prosecution had unfairly tarred Mrs. Ibori by tying her to the convicted Udoamaka Okoronkwo, prosecutors also pressed their case against Ibori’s attorney, Bhadresh Gohil. Mr. Gohil, who decided not to testify after observing the methodical way the prosecution dismantled Mrs. Ibori during cross-examination, was described as Mr. Ibori’s launderer-in-chief.

Our legal analyst said that prosecutors had done “a forensic job on Mr. Gohil, showing him as a man who hid evidence in chimneys.” He added that Mr. Gohil, described as “smooth talking and highly educated,” “betrayed the depth of his fear when he refused to take the stand.” The Crown prosecutors went to town, depicting him as a coward who could not face up to his deeds.

Mr. Gohil maintained a posh office in the West end area of London. Even though Mrs. Theresa Ibori had alleged that the documents found with Gohil were forged, Mr. Gohil seemed scared to take the stand and contradict her. “I don’t believe Mr. Gohil has any answers to the charges,” said a lawyer familiar with the case. “None of his defence would have withstood the blistering attack of the well-prepared prosecutors,” he added.

Prosecutors portrayed Gohil as one who had betrayed his oath to protect the law. They accused him of maintaining a manual on how to launder money without being detected, adding that he used the “money launderers’ spread sheet” to help unconscionable looters like Ibori – in direct contraventions of rule 15 of the UK solicitors procedure. Mr. Gohil is accused of lying to banks, police, and courts. He reportedly created secret safes to hide funds and documents, making him the perfect partner-in-crime for the Iboris.

The prosecution is likely to conclude its closing remarks next week Tuesday. Afterwards, Mrs. Ibori’s court-appointed legal aid lawyer as well as Mr. Gohil’s lawyer, Ian Winters, QC, will give their own closing statements. Judge Hardy is expected to sum up the case next week and the jury might begin deliberations on the case on Monday end of November.

These are really trying times for the once ebullient Governor of the oil-rich Delta State. His marriage to Nkoyo is not working as the woman is angry over many things. Since they left office, she has not experienced peace. It had been one trouble or another. The general feelings on the street is that if Ibori’s close associates are being locked up on money laundering charges, Nkoyo is not likely going to be free. Her outbursts at the last hearing in London were therefore confirmation of what the masses already knew.

What will be the end of this drama? If Nkoyo is jailed, that would be no news. Even the woman knew it is over for her. The looting spree that characterized the Ibori administration may have brought down the law of retributive justice on their heads. It is obvious more heads will roll. Ibori’s final conviction will be the climax of this epic drama that will either make or mar the Ibori’s political dynasty.

URHOBO LAND AND IT'S L.G.A

Urhobo State, University, Cultural Coherence Take Centre Stage

Greater political coherence and cohesion, the quest for an Urhobo State and an Urhobo University were among major issues for discussion and analysis at the recent 2-day Unity Summit organized by the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), umbrella body of the Urhobo People of Western Niger-Delta.

From the welcome address by Olorogun (Senator) Felix Ibru, UPU President-General, to the different remarks and speeches by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, former Governor James Ibori and other personalities who graced the summit, the need for Urhobo unity in present day Nigeria was lavishly acknowledged, even as speakers after speakers, including renowned academics, technocrats and politicians espoused their views and suggestions on ways to repositioning the Urhobo as a formidable ethnic nationality in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.

Olorogun Ibru in commending the vision of past Urhobo leaders submitted that, "We can borrow a shred of wisdom from Chief Mukoro Mowoe and the other pioneers of the Urhobo past. They foresaw clearly that the Urhobo progress required the friendship of our ethnic neighbours in the Niger-Delta and the Nigerian Community of ethnic nationalities…Chief Mukoro Mowoe worked hard for the friendship of all communities in the Western Niger-Delta…made friends from all corners of Nigeria, especially in those areas where Urhobo Communities were settled as economic immigrants."

Clark Blasts Urhobo Politicians

In his goodwill message, contained in an eight-page pamphlet, Chief (Dr.) Edwin Clark described the event as a "glorious occasion for all Urhobos both in Nigeria and in Diaspora and for those of us who have Urhobo blood flowing in our veins." Reminiscing on the days when Urhobo called the shots in the old Warri Urban District Council, Clark lamented that he “Watched with deep sorrow and disappointment the creep of Urhobo in the affairs of Warri Province, now Delta State, particularly Warri Urban, eroding away due to lack of committed leadership as was provided by past fathers as President-General, who had very little of western education, were very intelligent and very much committed to Urhobo cause and their neighbours respected them." The elder statesman called on Olorogun Ibru to appeal to "all our politicians, young and old, to return to the path of honour and give the Urhobo nation the pride of place in polity of Nigeria."

He expressed his disgust at seeing "Urhobo sons and daughters playing second class politics for their selfish gains without having a say in the state and national politics," and pleaded that the National UPU executives have the will power "to reconcile all Urhobo wherever they may be and not to worship politics of money at the expense of the pride of the Urhobo ethnic nationality."

Delta Opposition Members Snub Summit

Prominent members of the opposition in Delta State, and known activists including Chief Great Ogboru, Barrister Moses Oddiri, Prince Mike Asaboro, Chief (Barr.) Andrew Oru were visibly absent at the 2-day event. However, Chief Peter Okocha sent a goodwill message in newspaper advertorials.

Failure of UPU Responsible for Urhobo Political Woes, says Ibodje

In his paper presented on the Challenges of the Urhobo Nation, Professor S.W.E. Ibodje said the main challenge facing the Urhobo nation today is the "challenge of how to convert her potentials into political assets at the state and national levels." He argued that the poor performance of the Urhobo nation in the present political dispensation is the result of the failure of the UPU since the end of the Mukoro Mowoe era to maintain vision of the union and the necessary central structure of leadership, standards and focus left behind for the ethnic nationality.

Ibodje fingered the following as responsible for the poor political performance of the Urhobo nation: A lack of effective central leadership structure, personality conflicts among Urhobo leaders, the role of the political class, effects of social and economc change and the value system of Urhobo people; the nature of the relationship between Urhobo and other groups. He emphasized that to move forward, the Urhobo nation needs to return to the Mukoro Mowoe era of a strong central leadership structure built under the umbrella of the UPU with a well-articulated national vision. "The Urhobo of our era must not only identify her challenges, it must confront such challenges with a clear vision, which must not be known to the leadership alone, but also to the average Urhobo man and woman. Again, the Urhobo voice must be heard on major national and regional issues…,"Prof. Ibodje said.

On Urhobo State and University

Professor Peter Ekeh, Chair of Urhobo Historical Society, enumerating strategies for achieving the goals of Urhobo Unity Summit suggested a Committee on the case for an Urhobo State; an Urhobo Lands and Boundaries Committee, and a Committee on Good Governance in an Urhobo State. Prof. Ekeh said a well-crafted case for an Urhobo State is essential in planning for the new campaign. "A committee, which will work mostly behind the scenes, should articulate a case that the Urhobo people as well as other Nigerians will find appealing and convincing." He offered that in the renewed campaign for a State, the Urhobo should gain several lessons from previous experiences and outcomes, and guard against ill-consequences that could defile good governance in an Urhobo State; the control of the UPU in Urhobo affairs, the institution of the Ovie and the right of vote among the Urhobo People.

On the Urhobo University, Ekeh suggested that an Urhobo University should find its model in the private-not-for-profit category, which relies mostly on the returns of their endowments, partially relies on student paid tuition and survives on disciplined management of their resources within the funds that flow into their strictly controlled foundations. He said an Urhobo University Committee should be constituted to study the many issues and steps surrounding the setting-up of a University.

Ekeh also reeled out comprehensive plans for combating violence in Urhobo land, warning that the quest and establishment of an Urhobo State and University will only be meaningful if an enabling environment for their existence prevails in Urhobo Land.

University will bring Urhobo behind UPU—OKPAKO

On the part of Prof. David Okpako, the idea of the University emanating from the UPU will unify the Urhobo people behind the UPU, “and the UPU will be able to function again like the days of Mukoro Mowoe, just like the establishment of Urhobo College unified the Urhobo behind Mukoro Mowoe.” Okpako agreed that the idea of a University is essential and worthy, declaring that the University will afford "our people the opportunity to develop ourselves."

Prof. P. Kuale wants the agitation for Urhobo State creation to come an end, canvassing, instead, the restructuring of the whole country, just as Prof. Bright Ekhuerare appealed for anti-violence mechanisms in Urhobo land to curb violence.

People Sponsored to Divide Urhobo, Igun says

Former Vice-Chancellor of DELSU, Prof. Uvie Igun appealed that the UPU bring together all diverse political groups in Urhobo under one umbrella and monitor them from time to time. He also asked the Summit to come up with a task force to carve out a vision for the Urhobo people.

On 2011, Igun talked of the urgent need for Urhobo to dwell on how to confront 2011. He called for the setting of various task forces, such as: Urhobo National Vision Taskforce, Urhobo Political Task force, Urhobo Political Vanguard, UPU Leadership Committee (comprising mainly of traditional rulers.) Igun said an Urhobo Political Tactics task force should work out the Urhobo tactics for 2011, and the Urhobo Alliance Standing Committee to work out alliances between Urhobo and other ethnic groups towards achieving Urhobo aspirations.`

Other Personalities Present also Offered Opinions on Way Forward for Urhobo.

The Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom, HRH R.L Ogbon Ogoni-Oghoro1 (JP) frowned at the non-use of Urhobo language by the present generation of Urhobo youths. Expressing worry at the lack of academic interest and patronage of Urhobo language, the monarch admonished the youths to embrace and take advantage of the Urhobo Language Studies at DELSU, Abraka, even as he also lamented the lack of respect and recognition for Urhobo monarchs, especially at social functions, and called for a change. HRM Oghoro 1 related to the gathering how all Urhobo local government chairmen shunned invitations to them by the traditional rulers for a meeting to examine how the LG bosses could provide better services, extend democratic dividends to the people and develop the communities.

Chief Simeon Ohwofa, vice president of Urhobo Social Club, Lagos, in his contribution, mentioned the need to strengthen the structure and necessary leadership of the UPU in maintaining the Urhobo vision. He added that political groups by Urhobo politicians should be for Urhobo’s interest and not for personal gains, just as he called for a strategy to come out with a pool of human resources.

Marginalisation of Urhobo in Warri

Chief Daniel Obiomah advised that in making a case for an Urhobo State the Urhobos in Warri should be inculcated in any boundary to be drawn. In an emotion-laden voice, Obiomah lamented the marginalization and discrimination being suffered by the Urhobos in Warri "because we are Urhobos."

Chief Godwin Ogbetuo wants the Urhobo nation to ensure proper succession in her political leadership, while Dr. Adasen appealed for a committee to resolve the post-election crisis in Urhobo Land.

For Senator Fred Brume, the Urhobo must establish industrial parks, priotise the Osubi Airport, which must be upgraded to international standard (Prof. Amos Utuama, the deputy governor, who chaired the session, later informed that the Osubi Airport is already billed for upgrading to international standard), and encourage tourism. Brume also called for Christian revivals in Urhobo areas.

Professor Andrew Ohwona asked parents to inculcate sound moral values in their children, and admonished the people to be ready to defend their votes and to elect leaders that are accountable.

Plight of Urhobo College

Mr Olori Magege, who also spoke on the urgent need for those "who offended the Urhobo Nation" to show remorse and apologise to her, called on the UPU to take over the Urhobo College, which is said to be in a dilapidated state. Magege also asked politicians to stop arming the youths in Urhobo Land as it was threatening peaceful existence and security.

"Network with Others, Know Your Enemies"

General (Dr.) Oviemo Ovadje, rtd., advised the Urhobo nation to "know our enemies before you can plan, choose your friends. We must make friends who can help us politically and socially…the riches of the Urhobo people are too limited, we must get friends from the Centre too…”

Develop Curriculum for Urhobo Language Studies in Academic Institutions—IMENE

In his contribution, Chief Ogbemure M. Imene, the publisher of The Urhobo Voice urged attention to evolving curriculum for Urhobo language studies in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the State, noting that the Urhobo Orators Association, made up mainly of teachers and other educated individuals can effectively develop this task for the Urhobo Nation. In supporting Prof. Kuale’s position that Urhobo is lacking in terms of self-sufficiency on food production, he urged the UPU should note this all important aspect, even as he pleaded that Urhobo men and women of means should embrace farming.

The publisher further advised that the UPU should channel its activities under the realm of culture, since a people’s culture begets essence of their unity, adding that cultural coherency will remove friction from differences in political underplays. He said that the once we know that the people’s social, political and economic strands spring from their culture, the force of our unity will wax very strong. He also used the medium to thank the UPU and its executives for expending their resources, energy and time towards ensuring a greater, more united and socio-politically strong Urhobo nation.

Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, former MD/CEO NDDC also spoke in similar vein, calling on parents to ensure their children and wards speak Urhobo language fluently. In illustrating the importance of the mother tongue to children, Chief Aguariavwodo told the story of the embarrassment a mother suffered as the son could not confide in her of his deed and spoke English to the mother’s chagrin. He said he has made some compact discs (CDs) on teaching oneself Urhobo, advising that copies are available for those who want same for their children, even as he praised the UPU hierarchy for the summit, which he said is worthwhile.

Prayer for Urhobo

Bishop Jonathan Arhavwarien wants the UPU to form a prayer committee comprising all clergymen and spiritual leaders in Urhobo Land to pray over the Urhobo nation in seeking God's intervention and solutions. Prof. (Revd) Erivwo also supported this call, adding that Urhobo people should have the fear of the Lord because "wisdom will emanate from it, there would be unity and we would achieve our goals." The cleric also urged parents to drive the Urhobo language into the heads of their children and wards while they are young. "We need to change our orientation towards the Urhobo language," he said.

Chief Paul Akpofure, Dr. Abel Dafioghor, Chief (Mrs.) Judith Enamuotor, Chief Humphrey Aghoghovbia, Margaret Ojiyoma Evwaraye, President, South-South Women Forum, USA, and Godspower Odenema also spoke. Many looking forward to Chief Ighoyota Amori air his views were disappointed as the two-time commissioner and National President of Urhobo Political Forum announced that his views would be presented at the committee level.

Showers of Pamphlets

The event also witnessed showers of pamphlets from groups and individuals stating their case for the Urhobo nation, including that by Prof. (Senator) Adegor Eferakeya, Sentor representing Delta Central at the National Assembly, which contains a catalogue of his exploits at the National Assembly.

Urhobo’s neighbours, namely the Binis, Ijaw, Isoko and Ndokwa also presented goodwill messages on the opening day of the event, which witnessed an impressive and quality turnout of personalities including one-time Governor of defunct Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, Prof. B.I. Ijomah for the Ukwuani people, Ambassador Raph Uwechue, President-General of Ohanaeze and Elder Peter Erebi, President-General of Isoko Development Union.

On the last day, July 31, in spite of the heavy rains, which started on Thursday night till evening Friday, the event recorded an array of eminent personalities who stayed till the end of the programme.

A draft communiqué was read by Prof. Onigu Otite, and was adopted shortly before close of proceedings.

Court nullifies Uduaghan’s election

ASABA—DR. EMMANUELUduaghan’s tenure as Governor of Delta State was brought to an abrupt end, yesterday, after the five-man Court of Appeal panel presided over by Justice Monica Dongban-Mensah, in Benin annulled the process that brought him to power. The panel in a unanimous decision ruled that the election was marred with irregularities.

The court decision was upon the electoral petition filed by the gubernatorial candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, Chief Great Ogboru that there was no election in the State. The court in its ruling ordered that a fresh election should be conducted within 90 days.

The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Prince Sam Obi from Ika North East Constituency was ordered to be sworn in as Acting Governor in the interim. Obi was elected as Speaker only last July following the exit of the immediate past Speaker, Mr. Martins Okonta.

Yesterday’s action followed the persistent efforts of Mr. Ogboru to overturn the return of Dr. Uduaghan as the validly elected Governor of Delta State in the April 14, 2007 gubernatorial elections. To his chagrin, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared Uduaghan as the winner, issued him certificate of return and he was subsequently sworn-in on may 29, 2007 thus setting the stage for the attendant series of legal combats.

Ogboru, like his Action Congress, AC counterpart, Mr. Peter Okocha approached the Election Tribunal sitting in Asaba, the Delta State Capital, to nullify Uduaghan’s election. While Ogboru anchored his petition on manipulation of the polls, Okocha hinged his on exclusion from the exercise. The tribunal led by Justice Lokulo dismissed his petition and Ogboru headed for the appeal court and got a judgment for the petition to be retried.

Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan

On October 20, 2009, a new tribunal chaired by Justice B.S. Mohammed quashed his petition in a 20-page judgment, paving the way for the battle to return to the appeal court. Following the declaration, Ogboru had articulated a petition to the State Election Tribunal praying the tribunal for an “order on third and fourth respondents, INEC, to conduct fresh election for the governorship office in Delta State, devoid of corrupt practices and an order nullifying the governorship election purportedly held in Delta State on April 14, 2007, including returns made thereto.”

His petition was struck out for seemingly technical reasons and he proceeded to the Court of Appeal which ordered that the petition should be retried at the State Election Tribunal. A fresh tribunal also dismissed the case and again Ogboru proceeded to the Court of Appeal for another appeal. The Appeal Panel which ruled on the case, yesterday, was freshly constituted.

God has spoken— Ogboru
Reacting to the development, Chief Ogboru and prominent stakeholders from the State including Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, Minister of State Education among others said: “This is victory for democracy and for the people of Delta State.

Our people have been deprived of their rights for so many years and it is just about time and God has spoken, the suffering of his people has come to an end. Since 2003 we have not had election in Delta State and the court having found that out said we should go for a re-run election and I am sure the people of Delta State will speak and God will speak.

I’m not surprised— Edwin Clark, Ijaw leader
In his reaction, foremost Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark said “the judgment did not come to me as a surprise because there was no election in Delta State in 2007. Uduaghan was imposed on us by his cousin, James Ibori in order to perfect all his misdeeds in Delta State. So, the judgment did not come to me as a surprise.”

The court is doing its job— Gbagi
Also, Minister of State for Education, OlorogunKenneth Gbagi said: “It only goes to show that the court is doing its job, they are living up to their responsibility.

The court must be allowed to do their job at all times. We will all go back to the field as citizens of Delta State and vote for who will be our next governor.”

Also National Chairman of Labour Party, Chief Dan Nwayanwu described the judgment as a good signal for the polity.

His words: “Well, it is a good signal for the PDP ahead of the 2011 elections. It is a good victory for democracy and the rule of law. We must say that the time for free and fair elections has come, to ask for one man, one vote, the time has come and it is no longer Uhuru, it is no matter how long it takes, justice will definitely prevail. So those who claim to be the biggest party in Africa in Nigeria and who are saying they want a number of states squarely should wait and watch that 2011 will be different from 2007.”

Delta State gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of theAction Congress, Mr Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege described the verdict as a well derserved victory. He said: “The judgment sounds the dead knell of the misrule and corrupt administration of Uduaghan and his cabal. The tyrant is gone forever and today’s court ruling is freedom day for all Deltans.”

Uduaghan moves out of official residence, sues for calm

Ousted governor of Delta state, Emmanuel Uduaghan, has moved out of his official residence in Asaba in compliance with the ruling of the Court of Appeal in Benin which nullified his election on Tuesday. The court ordered Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a fresh governorship election in the state within 90 days and directed the Speaker of the State Assembly to take over as acting governor. The judgment was sequel to an appeal filed by Great Ogboru, Democratic People's Party candidate in the April 2007 governorship election.

The former governor and his family moved out of the residence at about 9 p.m. after addressing sympathisers who thronged his residence as news of the nullification filtered into the state capital. Addressing the gathering which included members of the PDP and Government House staff, Mr. Uduaghan sued for calm. He advised the people not to lose sleep over the development, saying God's wish would prevail. The PDP Chairman in the state, Peter Nwaoboshi, who was among those at the Governor's Lodge, charged party members to return to their wards and mobilise for the re-election. He expressed confidence that the party would win the re-election, saying Delta remained a PDP state.

2011: Let Uduaghan sustain his policies -Oguma

Olorogun John Oguma is a staunch member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State. He is also the National Treasurer of Urhobo Consultative Forum (UCF), an association committed to the growth and development of Delta State. He appears to be among several Deltans who have a soft spot for the policies of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and are working very hard to ensure that he continues in office beyond 2011.

In an interactive session with journalists in Lagos, the PDP chieftain says Action Congress has no strength to go to 2011 electoral battle in the state, as the party is already in tatters, while PDP is waxing stronger. Oguma also speaks on the achievements of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, the crisis within the PDP and the Urhobo nation

Royal fathers failed Urhobo, says Okumagba IMMEDIATE past President-General (PG) of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, Chief Benjamin Okumagba has sta

IMMEDIATE past President-General (PG) of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, Chief Benjamin Okumagba has stated that the Urhobo traditional rulers failed the Urhobo people even as he said he created a Council of Representatives in order to give room for the people to air their views on the way forward for the Urhobo nation. However, a frontline Urhobo traditional ruler who does not want his name in print has described the former PG as being too autocratic, authoritarian and disrespectful to them, noting that the position of the PG is time bound while that of the traditional ruler has no time limit.

Giving a break down of his stewardship to the Urhobo people at the end of his elongated tenure, Chief Okumagba said under his leadership “the UPU made efforts to bring the traditional rulers together until they failed the Urhobo people”.

He stated that he created new UPU branches all over the country and resuscitated moribund ones both in Nigeria and in the Diaspora, just as he originated the idea of a youth and women wing that are still very vibrant to date.

According to the traditional ruler, Chief B.O. Okumagba was summoning them to his house as if he was greater than them and also talking to them without due regards to their crown which unfortunately he cannot wear on his head.

However, the outcome of the emergence of former governor of Delta State, Chief Felix Ibru as the new PG of the UPU is still generating ripples with Urhobo circle.

While Chief Hope Erute of Uvwie Kingdom welcomed the emergence of Chief F. Ibru as the new PG, a youth leader in Otughievwen, Mr. Godwin Okpole who also applauded his emergence on account of the wide connections of the Ibru families stated that “Chief Felix Ibru is too imperious and distant from the larger Urhobo nation to occupy the top UPU seat that requires a listening, focused and unwavering man of action”, saying that Chief Felix Ibru lacks these qualities.

When Vanguard contacted Chief Felix Ibru for an interview on his recent victory as PG of the UPU, he said he would grant such only when he has been inaugurated in a forth night from now.