Prominent civil rights lawyer and activist, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, has berated the Delta State Governement and some of its allies who have been consistently clamouring for the release of the repatriated funds pilfered by the former governor of the state, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, to the state.
Ajulo, while fielding questions from this IgbereTv correspondent, said going by the history of the case and the role played by the Delta State Governement during the trial of the former governor, it is hypocritical for the state to continue to clamour that the funds be returned to them.
Ajulo added, ”being resolute on the conviction to ensure that justice was served to James Ibori who had illicitly enriched himself with the commonwealth of the people of Delta State, we proceeded to the Federal High Court for an order of Mandamus to compel the EFCC prosecute James Ibori and others.
“As at the time of the trial of James Ibori, the Delta State Governement with an unslackened enthusiasm had outrightly denied the looting of its purse by the ex-governor and even questioned the ‘cooked-up’ charges against him. Infact, they had believed that Ibori was a victim of political machinations.”
Continuing, Ajulo said that there is no moral justification for the chairman of the Presidential Advisory committee on anti-corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, who has been advocating that the repatriated funds be released to Delta State Governement, to still keep his present appointment.
“Prof Sagay cannot be approbating and reprobating at the same time. He cannot be against corruption and still defending this. The same man who has strongly condemned the sentencing of James Ibori in the past as being inhumane, savage and malicious.
“The chicken has come home to roost for Delta State Governement and they must bear the consequences of their actions. The people of Delta State and their allies who had said that they were not looking for moeny cannot suddenly claim ownership of the same money.”
