Court adjourns FG, Jimoh Ibrahim’s case to March 20

Clement Idoko, Abuja - 18.03.2008

A federal high court in Abuja on Monday adjourned the case involving the Federal Government and Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim over the return of the management of NICON Insurance and Nigeria-Re to the core investor, till March 20.

Director of Civil Litigation in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Agatha Mbamali, told Justice Anwuri Chikere on Monday that the government needed more time to study the agreement before further action on the issue.

There were media reports last week that President Umaru Yar’Adua had directed that the two insurance companies be returned to Ibrahim.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Mike Aondoakaa (SAN), had entered into agreement with Ibrahim’s lawyers, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) and Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi (SAN) to the effect that the two organisations were to be returned to Ibrahim.

But in a dramatic manner, almost immediately the agreement was filed before the court, Aondoakaa filed another motion withdrawing from the agreement on behalf of the Federal Government.

According to him, the government had to rescind the agreement because of certain fresh disclosure by the Finance Minister, Mr. Shamsudeen Usman, who was not briefed when the agreement was drafted.

Counsel for Jimoh, Chief Olujinmi, however, frowned at the development and said he was shocked when he heard that the agreement was being withdrawn because the finance minister did not make input in it.