He further ordered that Ibru should forfeit N191billion worth of assets to the Federal Government through the office of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). The assets to forfeit include properties in Nigeria, United States of America, and Dubai.
She is also to forfeit shares in over one hundred firms both listed and unlisted at the Nigerian Stock Exchange market. According to the judge, “She should be returned back to Redington Hospital, Victoria Island, Lagos from where she was brought to court to continue with her treatment until she is fit to return back to prison.”
At the resumption of hearing yesterday, counsel to the EFCC, Kola Awodein (SAN) told the court that there was an agreement between the prosecution and the accused person’s lawyer which has been put in a written form and which has been filed before the court.
He said, “We will be inviting the court under section 17 of the Federal High Court Act, which enjoins this court to promote reconciliation among parties and facilitate an amicable settlement with them under the inherent jurisdiction of the court under section 6(6) of the 1999 constitution.
“We will therefore be seeking the court to exercise these powers in this matter with regard to the agreement that has been reached. It is the desire of the prosecution to amend the charge that has been filed in this matter by applying to withdraw a number of counts; all of the counts except counts 14, 17 and 23, which would be left for her to take her plea.”
He further said that with regards to the fact relating to count 14, the accused person approved the grant of credit facility while she served as the MD/CEO of the bank. Counsel to the sacked bank chief, Professor Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), prayed the court to order that the sentence should run concurrently. According to him, the accused grew the bank from nothing to something and that she wished the bank should continue to grow and that is why she is letting go.
The professor added further that, “It is to the knowledge of all concerned that the accused has been in the hospital and she has been diagnosed by the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) that she has Acute Cardiac problem and Sinuses. “I urge court to allow her go back to the hospital from the court, and allow her sentence to start running.”
EFCC had earlier arraigned Ibru on a 25-count charge in August 31, 2009 which she pleaded not guilty. However the EFCC yesterday decided to reduce it to 3 counts which bordered on approving the grant of a credit facility in the sum of $20m by the bank to Waves Project in the country.
