Justice Mohammed Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, Kaduna , will today rule on the bail application of former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, provided the proceedings are not affected by the industrial action threatened by workers in the Ministry of Justice .
A source said at the weekend that the Federal Civil Service Union of Nigeria (FCSUN) will embark on strike to press for salary increase as being enjoyed by Judges.
An official at the Federal High Court in Kaduna confirmed that “we have received a circular in relation to the proposed strike by all civil servants in the Federal Ministry of Justice directing us to embark on strike as from Monday, February 4 to press for salary increment.”
A strike could stall the bail application by Ibori who is facing 129 charges levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Mohammed Lawal Shuaibu had fixed January 31 for ruling on the application, which was filed by Ibori�s lead counsel, Joseph Daudu.
However, some 24 hours before the sitting, the case was postponed today, because, as it was explained, the Judge was “on a national assignment.”
It was learnt that Shuaibu was busy in Abuja last week as a member of the organising committee for the send off of the retiring Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.
He was to deliver a paper as a resource person in a seminar, so he had to postpone all the cases on the “cause list” slated for last week.
In another case, the trial of former Edo State Governor, Lucky Igbinedion, also resumes today at the Federal High Court in Enugu.
The EFCC arraigned him on January 23 on 156 charges of corruption, money laundering, and crime committed while in office.
Igbinedion is charged alongside four corporate citizens: Gava Corporation, Kiva Corporation, Ekpen and Sons Limited, and Romri Limited.