{"id":3020,"date":"2013-05-03T05:25:02","date_gmt":"2013-05-03T05:25:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigeria-news\/ex-governor-ibori-fails-to-overturn-sentence\/"},"modified":"2013-05-03T05:25:02","modified_gmt":"2013-05-03T05:25:02","slug":"ex-governor-ibori-fails-to-overturn-sentence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/ex-governor-ibori-fails-to-overturn-sentence\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-governor Ibori fails to overturn sentence"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Former Governor of Nigeria’s oil rich Delta State, Chief James Ibori has failed in his bid to reduce his prison sentence via an appeal at the Court of Appeal of England and Wales.<\/p>\n

Justice Anthony Pitts of the Southwark Crown Court had sentenced the former Governor to 13 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to money laundering and fraud.<\/p>\n

Ibori\u2019s legal team had based their argument to reduce his 13-year jail term sentence on a conversation in chamber between Justice Pitts and Defence lawyers where Pitts hinted that he could hand Ibori a jail term not more than 10 years if he pleaded guilty to the charges filed against him, The Will reports.<\/p>\n

However, the Court of Appeal Justices led by the respected Lord Justice Brian Henry Leveson that were earlier scheduled to hear the appeal were dramatically replaced Wednesday with fresh Justices that sat briefly today to hear the counsels from both sides address the court.<\/p>\n

Lord Justice Edward-Stuart, who led Lord Justice Treacy and Peter Collier QC read today\u2019s well typed out ruling.<\/p>\n

The Justices said Pitts\u2019 hints on a possible 10 years limit sentence for Ibori could not be relied on for a successful appeal as it was not \u201cEmphatic Enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"James <\/p>\n

James Ibori: appeal fails<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The Justices said even though Ibori\u2019s counsels had \u201clegitimate expectations\u201d based on Pitts\u2019 insinuations of a 10-year sentence, the Southwark Crown judge did not emphasize or commit to a 10-year jail term for Ibori if he entered a guilty plea.<\/p>\n

Lord Justice Edward-Stuart told the counsels that there would be no need for a long trial of the appeal as the Justices had previously familiarized themselves with the grounds of the appeal and had read the submissions of both sides. After the counsels had addressed the court briefly, the judges retired for approximately 15 minutes and returned to read their verdict.<\/p>\n

The ruling of the court brings to an end Ibori\u2019s bid to reduce the lengthy prison sentence he is presently serving. He is due for release sometime in 2016.<\/p>\n

Ibori and his supporters have maintained that his trial and eventual sentencing is part of a political plot to persecute for his political beliefs and keep away from Nigeria during the 2015 general elections.<\/p>\n

The former governor was convicted and for misappropriating millions of naira belonging to Delta State, where he served as Governor from 1999-2007.<\/p>\n

He was sentenced on April 17, 2012.

Reported by The Will<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/img> <\/img> <\/img> <\/img> <\/div>\n

——————————————————————————————————————————————-
Posted in Nigeria News. <\/a>A DisNaija.Com<\/a> network.<\/p>\n

Source: PM News<\/p>\n

DisNaija.Com<\/b> publishes regular posts on Nigeria News,<\/a> Nigerian Newspapers,<\/a> Online Nigeria Gist.<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow us on Twitter<\/a> and Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Nigeria News<\/a>
\n
\nFollow @Dis_Naija<\/a>
\n