.Orders his immediate release from prison
A British High Court, the Royal Court of Justice, Queens Bench Division, Court 1, sitting in London, ruled today that the continued detention of former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, was illegal and ordered his immediate release from prison.
Ibori, who was due for release on Tuesday, December 20, 2016, after serving out his 13-year sentence (served 6 1/2), was informed by the British Home Office that he will not be released on the ground that his confiscation proceedings had not been concluded.
Speaking to The Niche, one of Ibori’s lawyers said, “The UK’s Home Office in a last minute bid tried to block his release on the premise that his assets confiscation hearing remained inconclusive.”
This prompted Ibori’s lawyers to file an emergency hearing suit challenging the decision of the Home Office not to release him and seeking the immediate release of the frontline Nigerian politician.
And the lawyers won an immediate reprieve when the presiding judge, Justice Juliet May (QC) ordered his immediate release.
Ibori’s lawyers explained to the judge that there were no grounds in law under which Ibori could be detained, insisting that the refusal of the Secretary of State was unlawful. But the prosecution team urged the judge not to release the Nigerian politician since the confiscation hearing against him was still pending. But the defence counsel countered that the law demands the release or deportation of anyone who had finished serving his term.
After listening to both parties, Justice May ordered the immediate release of Ibori from prison. Ruling Wednesday, presiding Judge, Mrs. Justice May, who heard the emergency appeal filed by Ibori to enforce his rights, refused the Home Office’s request to further hold him in prison and ordered his immediate release without conditions
Speaking exclusively to The Niche on telephone immediately after the ruling, Ibori’s lawyer, Jonathan Chike Epelle stated that, “The Home Office’s position was totally unreasonable and was not in accordance with any known provision of prison, immigration or confiscation law.”
He further stated that “we are grateful that the judge was able to see the true position and acted with complete fairness and experience.”
At the time of filing this report, the lawyers had obtained the certified true copy of the judgment which they have served on prison authorities.
Ibori is presently appealing his conviction for money laundering.